PTI to knock at SC doors to reclaim ‘Bat’

Party chairman condemns PHC verdict as ECP's 'biggest reflection of bias'

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced to challenge the recent ruling of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), which reinstated the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) directive, leading to the revocation of the party’s electoral symbol, 'bat.'

Addressing the media on Wednesday, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan strongly criticised the PHC's decision, terming it the "most brazen reflection of the ECP’s partiality."

He asserted that the party would escalate the matter to the Supreme Court to contest the decision.

Expressing reservations about the "legitimacy of the election," the PTI chief questioned the ECP's proclamation that the PTI’s intra-party polls were "unconstitutional," resulting in the withdrawal of the iconic 'bat' electoral symbol.

He underscored the symbolic significance of the 'bat,' contending that its absence would cast doubt on the election's international recognition. “I think that taking away the ‘bat’ from PTI raises a question of legitimacy with regard to the election. If you take away the ‘bat’, the world will not recognise your election,” he added.

Gohar Khan implored the apex court to "kindly listen to us." “I think this decision was given in haste […] we will approach the Supreme Court against it,” he said. “So we urge the SC, that we will come to you tomorrow. Do us this kindness and listen to us,” he said.

While the PTI does not plan to boycott the election, he clarified that if the SCP does not reinstate the 'bat' symbol, PTI candidates would participate independently, urging the court to designate an alternative symbol.

However, the PTI chief said the party would not boycott the election.

Read also: Gohar meets Imran in jail

‘Injustice to voters’

Reacting to the PHC’s decision, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leader and senior lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan underscored the great injustice inflicted upon millions of loyal voters, their rights seemingly snatched away with a single, bureaucratic flourish.

He said that the party had been virtually crushed with this decision.

However, the power to render a political entity politically impotent, to strip it of its very identity, resided solely with the top court, he asserted.

Earlier in the day, the PHC lifted the stay order and reaffirmed the ECP’s decision to nullify the PTI’s intra-party polls and strip the party of its election symbol, the 'bat.'

The PHC’s pronouncement followed its verdict on December 26, in response to the PTI’s petition challenging the ECP’s decision.

Read: PHC restores ECP's decision on PTI's intra-party polls

The ECP had invalidated PTI’s intra-party elections on December 2, citing non-compliance with electoral regulations. Subsequently, the PTI contested this decision in the Peshawar High Court.

On December 22, the electoral watchdog invalidated PTI's internal elections, resulting in the withdrawal of the party's iconic ‘cricket bat’ symbol.

In the intra-party elections held earlier in December 2023, on the electoral body’s order, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was elected as the PTI’s new chairman. Gohar was nominated by Imran Khan -- the PTI’s founder, who is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi's Adiala jail.

However, on December 26, the PHC, presided over by a single judge Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel, suspended the commission’s decision to nullify the PTI's intra-party polls and revoke its 'cricket bat' symbol.

The court in its order had directed the commission to publish the PTI’s certificate on its website and restore the electoral symbol of the party.

The ECP held a meeting following the PHC’s decision. The commission then decided to challenge the PHC decision through an intra-court appeal filed on December 30, 2023.

According to the ECP’s legal experts, the decision of a sole judge of the PHC without hearing the commission was against the principles of justice.