ECP Appeals Against PHC Ruling On PTI’s Bat

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has taken legal action by filing an appeal against the recent decision of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) regarding the allocation of the ‘cricket bat’ symbol to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for the upcoming elections. The ECP filed the petition in the PHC, urging the formation of a 2-member bench with special powers to expedite the resolution of the matter. The appeal calls for a review of PTI’s intra-party elections and the related decision on the election symbol.

The Peshawar High Court had earlier revoked the ECP’s decision on December 26, which was associated with PTI’s participation in the upcoming elections and the allocation of the ‘cricket bat’ symbol. The court issued a stay order on the ECP’s verdict and issued notices to the parties involved, scheduling the next hearing for January 9. The court also mentioned that a divisional bench would handle the case after the winter vacation.

Read more : Peshawar High Court Reinstates PTIs Bat Symbol for Upcoming Elections

PTI had challenged the ECP’s decision in the Peshawar High Court, arguing that those who contested their intra-party elections were not party members and lacked standing to challenge the elections. The party called for the urgent formation of a bench comprising senior judges to hear their application.

The Election Commission of Pakistan had declared PTI’s intra-party elections null and void, stating that the party would not be allowed to retain its electoral symbol of the ‘bat’ for the February 8 general election. This decision was made after PTI’s intra-party elections on December 3, following an earlier declaration by the ECP that the intra-party polls held in June 2022 were null and void. The ECP had given PTI 20 days to hold fresh elections or risk becoming ineligible for the ‘bat’ symbol in the upcoming polls.