[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]Following the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision to uphold the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) directive revoking the election symbol of the bat from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party has declared that its candidates will participate in the upcoming elections as independent contenders.
Former PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, addressing reporters at the Supreme Court late on Saturday night, expressed disappointment in the court’s “controversial” decision and stated that all PTI candidates would run independently. He mentioned that the party would release a list of its candidates along with their respective election symbols.
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Gohar emphasized that the court’s ruling did not diminish the support PTI had from the majority of Pakistani voters. He asserted that the party remained strong, and regardless of the absence of the bat symbol, people would still vote for PTI.
While recognizing the strength of the party, Gohar also emphasized the court’s responsibility to ensure the protection of fundamental rights for all individuals, indicating that the PTI might challenge the Supreme Court’s verdict.
The decision to contest the elections independently comes in response to the court’s affirmation of the ECP’s move to withdraw PTI’s election symbol. This development adds a new dimension to the political landscape as PTI prepares for the upcoming general elections, scheduled for February 8, 2024. The absence of the bat symbol, which has been an iconic representation of PTI, may pose challenges, but the party appears determined to navigate the electoral landscape with alternative symbols for its candidates.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
