PTI’s intra-party polls: ECP’s verdict will remain suspended till Jan 9: PHC

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court has issued a written order on a plea filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s verdict that had nullified the party’s intra-party polls and stripped it of its iconic election symbol of bat.

In the written order, the PHC said the allocation of election symbols is set to take place on January 13, 2024. The court has scheduled the next hearing in the case for January 9, 2024. Until then, election commission’s decision will remain suspended until the matter is further deliberated, the written order said.

“The essence of the matter revolves around a political party being unjustly deprived of its electoral symbol, thereby denying voters the opportunity to cast their ballots in favour of their chosen party,” the written order said.

Consequently, it said, the court has temporarily suspended the decision of the election commission. A notice has been issued to all relevant parties, including the election commission to submit replies on the PTI’s plea.

Furthermore, the court has asked the ECP to publish the certificate related to PTI’s intra-party elections on its official website.

Additionally, the court said it has ordered the restoration of PTI’s iconic bat symbol.