AJK court restores PTI registration, allows candidates to contest under bat symbol

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir high court issued a short order on Tuesday restoring the registration of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), allowing candidates to contest upcoming elections under ‘bat symbol’

AJK High Court larger bench headed by Chief Justice Shahid Bahar overturned an earlier ruling by the regional election commission, which had canceled the party’s registration and stripped it of its symbol.

The high court directed the authorities concerned to re-allot the PTI its iconic “bat” electoral symbol.

The court issued the verdict on a petition filed by senior PTI leader and former AJK Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi.

Following the cigh court’s verdict, PTI candidates will now be legally permitted to contest upcoming regional elections under the “bat” symbol.

Earlier, the AJK Election Commission had rejected the registration application of PTI Azad Kashmir chapter, citing violations of financial rules and failure to comply with electoral regulations.

The decision was taken over non-implementation of Rule 121 of the election regulations, which led to the rejection of the application.