PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: The Peshawar High Court upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s ruling to withhold the use of the bat symbol by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Two separate high courts, namely the Peshawar High Court and the Lahore High Court, deliberated on petitions regarding the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to revoke PTI’s electoral symbol, the ‘bat,’ on Wednesday. Both courts had previously reserved their decisions.
PTI aimed to reclaim its electoral symbol, the bat, and approached the Peshawar High Court in late December, securing a favorable ruling from a single member bench.
However, the ECP countered the PHC’s decision by filing a review petition.
Conversely, PTI pursued legal recourse against the ECP’s refusal to comply with the PHC’s order and reinstate the bat symbol.
At the Peshawar High Court, Justice Ejaz Khan presided over the ECP’s review petition against the single bench’s verdict on Tuesday and Wednesday.
PTI’s counsel, Qazi Anwar, argued on Wednesday that the ECP’s review petition contravened the law and highlighted the commission’s non-compliance with the PHC’s directive to restore PTI’s intra-party elections and the bat symbol.
Following Qazi Anwar’s arguments and the completion of the ECP lawyer’s statements on Tuesday, the court reserved its judgment.
The ECP maintained its stance before the PHC, citing PTI’s similar plea before the Lahore High Court prior to approaching the PHC, without awaiting a decision.
Simultaneously, the Lahore High Court heard a PTI petition contesting the ECP’s decision.
The PTI counsel apprised the court of the Punjab Election Commission’s failure to implement the PHC’s ruling, reinstating PTI’s intra-party elections.
Justice Jawad Hasan raised queries regarding the PTI petition, questioning whether the Punjab Election Commission was obligated to adhere to the PHC’s judgment or if a provincial election commission could oppose the Chief Election Commission of Pakistan.
Justice Hasan subsequently reserved the judgment, pending announcement.
