On Wednesday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced its decision to challenge the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) verdict, which upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) order stripping the party of its electoral symbol ‘bat’.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan expressed his concerns about the PHC’s decision, labeling it as a significant reflection of ECP’s bias.
He stated that PTI would approach the Supreme Court (SC) against the order, questioning the legitimacy of elections after the ECP deemed PTI’s intra-party polls unconstitutional.
Gohar Khan urged the SC to consider the case, emphasizing the importance of the ‘bat’ symbol for the recognition of the election. Despite the setback, he affirmed that PTI would not boycott the elections.
However, if the SC does not restore the ‘bat,’ he suggested that PTI candidates would contest independently with alternative symbols.
Earlier in the day, the PHC overturned the stay order and reinstated the ECP decision, nullifying PTI’s intra-party polls and revoking its election symbol.
The ECP had previously declared PTI ineligible for the ‘bat’ symbol, citing non-compliance with election regulations. The PHC’s decision prompted PTI to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court.
PTI Leader Emaan Tahir Arrested From Peshawar High Court
In another development, Emaan Tahir, a leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, was apprehended outside the Peshawar High Court.
Emaan Tahir appeared at the court seeking protective bail, which was granted along with an order to submit surety bonds amounting to Rs200,000.
Despite the court’s decision, she was arrested immediately upon leaving the premises after receiving the written order.
Notably, Emaan Tahir is the daughter of Major (retired) Tahir Sadiq, a former PTI MNA from Attock.
