LHC seeks arguments on PTI symbol plea

Also requests assistance on question of jurisdiction to hear PTI petition

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh has sought arguments on the maintainability of a plea filed by PTI secretary general and other party leaders seeking direction for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to allot PTI its electoral symbol of the cricket bat.

The court has also sought arguments regarding its jurisdiction to hear the matter.

The PTI requested the court to declare that a political party cannot be deprived of the right to contest an election, especially by taking away or denying an electoral symbol for its failure to hold intra-party elections.

The petition, filed by PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan, Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, Information Secretary Raoof Hasan, and others, contended that since the general elections of 2002, the PTI has been contesting elections in the country with its widely recognized electoral symbol.

It stated that in the general elections of 2024, every attempt was made to exclude the PTI from the election race.

“This included the snatching of nomination papers, exclusion of candidates as well as proposers and seconders from attending scrutiny proceedings, raids and heavy-handed actions by police personnel denying rallies and gatherings, and incarceration of thousands of PTI workers.”

The petition further stated that PTI's founder Imran Khan was later disqualified, convicted, and incarcerated in a series of controversial trials, which are currently pending adjudication in appeal and subject to challenge before higher courts.

“His name and picture became the subject of a de-facto ban on television and electronic media. These are all matters of record, and if required, the necessary documents can be filed.

“Unfortunately, the ECP, which is under the constitutional duty to conduct elections impartially in a manner that is honest, just, and fair, singled out PTI and its candidates to prevent their participation in the general elections of 2024,” the petition added.