PTI’s 'Plan B' unravels as PTI-N dispute over electoral symbol emerges

PTI-N chief Akhtar Iqbal Dar objects to PTI candidates presenting PTI Nazriati tickets to returning officers

In a surprising turn of events, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) encountered setbacks in its 'Plan B' strategy on Saturday as the party's splinter group, Tehreek-e-Insaf-Nazriati (PTI-N), reportedly reneged on an agreement allowing PTI leaders to participate in elections using the latter's electoral symbol – batsman.

Earlier in the day, PTI's official X account called on individuals with PTI-Nazriati tickets to submit them promptly to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and high courts, creating a stir amid ongoing legal proceedings.

However, during a subsequent press conference, PTI-N chief Akhtar Iqbal Dar objected to PTI candidates presenting PTI Nazriati tickets to returning officers, expressing surprise and questioning the origin of these tickets. Dar claimed to have issued the PTI Nazriati tickets personally, emphasising his signed agreement with PTI and asserting that the tickets featured the symbol of a batsman.

In response, PTI's Raoof Hasan, while speaking to a private TV channel, contended that Dar's press conference resembled those conducted by former party leaders who had departed from PTI. Hasan claimed that Dar had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with PTI, including his signatures on the tickets issued in their office.

Also read: SC restores ECP order, deprives PTI of ‘bat’ symbol

Simultaneously, PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen submitted a plea to the ECP, urging the acceptance of PTI Nazriati tickets awarded to candidates and requesting instructions for returning officers in this matter.

The ECP issued a warning to returning officers, emphasising that attempts to deceive the commission through such requests would not be tolerated. The commission reiterated its directive against allocating a party's electoral symbol to another party's candidate and reminded candidates to adhere to ECP orders and the Election Act of 2017, which prohibits candidacy under two political parties simultaneously.

Sources suggested that PTI's 'Plan B' was devised after the party faced the potential loss of its iconic symbol, the "bat." The alliance with PTI-Nazriati aimed to use the 'batsman' symbol for PTI candidates, which PTI officials believed was similar enough to the 'bat' symbol to maintain voter association with PTI.

Despite the initial reluctance to grant the 'batsman' symbol to PTI-Nazriati, the PTI leadership pursued the alliance to avoid voter confusion in case separate symbols were allocated. The unfolding dispute casts uncertainty over the electoral strategy, leaving PTI to navigate a complex situation ahead of crucial elections.