Peshawar High Court (PHC) reinstates PTI’s ‘bat’ symbol

Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday restored Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ‘bat’ as its election symbol for February 8, general elections.

A two-member Peshawar High Court (PHC) bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Arshad Ali announced the verdict.

Peshawar High Court (PHC) declared the ECP order “illegal, without any lawful authority and of no legal effect”, adding “PTI is a political party entitled to an election symbol.”

The court directed the ECP to publish the certificate filed by the PTI following internal polls on its website. “It is further held and declared that the PTI is entitled to the election symbol strictly in terms of Sections 215 and 217 read with any other enabling provision of the Election Act, 2017 and Election Rules, 2017,” it said.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) withrew its plea with the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday after getting the foavorable verdict Peshawar High Court (PHC).

On January 4, PTI moved to apex court challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) revocation of its electoral symbol ‘cricket bat’.

PTI’s battle for intra-party polls and election symbol ‘bat’

On 22 December, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) declared PTI ineligible to obtain iconic ‘bat’ as Election Symbol and ruled intra-party polls unconstitutional.

On 26 Decemeber, Peshawar High Court put the election commission’s decision on hold until the case is resolved.

On 3rd January, Peshawar High Court (PHC) reinstated the Election Commission of Pakistan’s December 22, order which declared PTI’s intra-party polls “unconstitutional” and revoked the party’s iconic ‘bat’ electoral symbol.

Peshawar High Court (PHC) further pronounced that the grievance of the petitioner as agitated in the main writ petition was to be considered and finally adjudicated upon by this court on the date fixed (Jan 9).