Humayun Khan
PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court (PHC) revoked the status quo and restored Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decision to declare PTI intra-party polls null and void as well as stripping it bat as electoral symbol, on Wednesday.
On December 26, the high court announced the verdict on Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI’s) petition challenging the ECP’s verdict, which had stripped PTI of using the ‘bat’ symbol. A single-member bench comprising Justice Ijaz Khan announced the reserved verdict on a review plea filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against the January 26 single-member bench order. Barrister Gohar Khan and Advocate Anwar represented the PTI in this case.
During the hearing on Wednesday, Advocate Anwar said that the PHC announced its verdict on December 26, however, it has not yet been implemented. “The political parties, in the court, said that they stand with the Election Commission,” said Anwar. “Can the ECP approach the court against the high court’s ruling?” questioned PTI’s lawyer.
“Did your party file any contempt case in this matter?” asked Justice Khan. He further said that the PTI wants the ECP to conduct free and fair elections. It worthy to mention that ECP had filed a review petition in the high court against its December 26 decision which had suspended the ECP’s order and restored the party’s ‘bat’ symbol till a final decision on the matter.
The ECP, in its order, had declared PTI’s intra-party polls “illegal” and seized its election symbol of the ‘bat’ symbol. Following its order, the PTI approached the PHC seeking restoration of its party symbol ahead of the general elections slated for February 8. In its petition, the ECP then requested the court to review the PTI’s intra-party elections and its decision related to the election symbol. Earlier, the court heard the arguments and then adjourned the hearing till yesterday (Wednesday).
Meanwhile, the PTI announced to approach Supreme Court (SC) against PHC verdict, restoring ECP order which had stripped the party of its electoral symbol ‘bat’. This was announced by PTI Barrister Gohar Khan while talking to journalists, and dubbed the PHC’s verdict “biggest reflection of the ECP’s biasness”, saying that it has decided to approach Supreme Court (SC) against the Wednesday’s order.
Gohar Khan questioned over the “legitimacy of election” after the ECP deemed the PTI’s intra-party polls “unconstitutional” and revoked the party’s iconic ‘bat’ electoral symbol. “If you take away the ‘bat’, the world will not recognize your election,” he said.
PTI chairman said that the electoral watchdog was “chasing the case” like it had never done so in the past, urging the Supreme Court (SC) to “do us this kindness and listen to us,”. Meanwhile, the PTI chief also said that his party would not boycott the election. “We will boycott [the polls] under any circumstances,” he said, adding: “We will urge the SC — the ‘bat’ is not necessary, give us some other symbol.
“If the Supreme Court does not restore the bat, all the PTI candidates would the contest elections independently,” he added. Earlier in the day PHC restored the ECP decision to declare PTI intra-party polls null and void and stripping it of its election symbol ‘bat’.
