Bat Symbol
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has launched a counteroffensive against the Supreme Court’s decision to revoke its “bat” symbol, filing a review petition on Tuesday. The party aims to overturn the ruling and revert to the Peshawar High Court’s judgment, allowing them to retain the symbol for internal elections. The petition alleges irregularities in legal proceedings and claims unfair treatment by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Arguing that intra-party elections adhered to the party’s constitution, PTI contends that the ECP overstepped its authority by intervening in internal election matters. The party accuses the ECP of attempting to exclude them from general elections through actions such as the alleged abduction of candidates or their seconders, preventing them from submitting nomination papers.
The petition demands a “level playing field” from the ECP and holds it accountable for alleged hindrances to PTI’s participation. PTI’s legal challenge asserts that the ECP’s decision to withdraw the symbol infringes on the party and its voters’ fundamental rights, invoking the right to form political parties and participate in elections enshrined in Pakistan’s constitution.
The petition argues that the Supreme Court did not adequately assess facts related to intra-party elections and that the withdrawal of the symbol violates voters’ fundamental rights. Seeking annulment of the ECP’s decision, PTI has named all complainants in the High Court case as parties in the review petition.
Senior advocates Hamid Khan and Barrister Ali Zafar represent PTI in this legal battle. The Supreme Court’s January 13 ruling, which invalidated PTI’s bat symbol, stemmed from allegations of irregularities in the party’s internal elections. While the Peshawar High Court reinstated the symbol, the Supreme Court deemed the elections “unconstitutional.”
Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, during the verdict, referenced numerous complaints received by the ECP regarding PTI’s intra-party elections.
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