Peshawar High Court Reinstates PTI’s ‘Bat’ Symbol for Upcoming Elections

On Tuesday, the Peshawar High Court overturned the Election Commission’s decision, granting permission to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to participate in the upcoming elections using the ‘bat’ as its electoral symbol. Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel of Peshawar delivered the verdict shortly after holding his decision in reserve.

In the preceding week, a bench comprising five members of the Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, had invalidated PTI’s intra-party elections, stripping the party of its iconic cricket bat symbol.

This decision prompted PTI, led by Imran Khan, to engage in a legal battle against the Election Commission’s regulations ahead of the elections.

PTI’s legal representatives argued that the annulment of the intra-party elections amounted to preventing the party from participating in the upcoming elections and alleged that the decision appeared to be driven by malicious intent.

Previously: PTI Seeks Court Intervention After Losing Election Symbol

They urged the court to declare the Election Commission’s ruling null and void, emphasizing their disagreement with the decision.

Babar Awan, a prominent PTI leader, expressed dissatisfaction with what he characterized as the unjust confiscation of PTI’s electoral symbol.

Addressing the media outside the Peshawar High Court, Awan stated that PTI’s founder continues to serve as its chairman, revealing that PTI is actively challenging the decision through legal avenues. Simultaneously, legal proceedings for contempt of court are being initiated in the Supreme Court.

Underscoring the gravity of the situation, Babar Awan emphasized that the Supreme Court had unequivocally declared any interference with the election process as contempt of court.