PHC extends status quo till 21st in PTI intra-party case

Humayun Khan

PESHAWAR: A divisional bench of Peshawar High Court (PHC) comprising of Justice SM Attique Shah and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah extended status quo till 21st December by stopping Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from final decision in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) intra-party election for chairmanship, on Tuesday.

PTI’s chairman Barrister Gohar Ali, Syed Sikandar Shah, Nauman-ul-Haq Kakakhel, Shah Faisal Ottomankhel and ECP’s lawyer Mohsin Kamran Sadiq appeared before court during the hearing. Barrister Gohar Ali argued that PTI intra-party election was held on 2nd December in which he was elected as chairman unopposed at Peshawar. He added that Akbar S Babar had challenged PTI’s intra-party election despite he isn’t the party’s member.

PTI’s intra-party election concluded under sections 208 and 209 of Election Act 2017 which is to held within five years as per party’s constitution. A complaint was lodged at ECP against PTI’s intra-party and it is enlisted for hearing on today (Tuesday) beyond jurisdiction while the commission had declared that decide the matter if PTI representative didn’t appear.

PTI had victimized in every case it may be in foreign funding case, jail trial or any other case by ECP. ECP didn’t issued certificate to PTI after submission intra-party’s result which necessary before election schedule, the writ pleaded.

PHC’s divisional bench comprised of Justice SM Attique Shah and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah ordered extended status quo in this regard and ordered ECP for provision of copy to petitioner of reply within while adjourned further till 21th December.

Meanwhile, PTI chairman claimed if ECP had withdrew party’s symbol ‘Bat’ then horse-trading will be initiated across the country and independent candidates will be forced to join particular party in formation of government which will ultimately used for blackmailing of treasury. This he said while talking to media personnel after hearing at PHC and argued Supreme Court of Pakistan for intervention to ensure free and fair elections. He added that PTI is hopeful from courts for dissemination of justice and claimed ECP didn’t submitted reply in this regard.