The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has nullified the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to revoke the electoral symbol of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the bat. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday by a two-member bench comprising Justice Arshad Ali and Justice Anijaz Anwar.
The court, in its order, declared the ECP’s decision as unconstitutional and directed the immediate restoration of PTI’s bat symbol. Furthermore, the PHC ruled that PTI’s election certificate should be released on the official website without any delay.
The case involved a total of 14 parties, with eight of them failing to appear in court during Wednesday’s hearing. The ECP had initially stripped PTI of its electoral symbol, citing the party’s failure to conduct intra-party elections in accordance with its constitution.
PTI had hastily organized the elections in response to a 20-day ultimatum issued by the court. Despite the urgency, the ECP’s decision has now been overturned, providing a legal victory for PTI and reinstating its bat symbol ahead of future electoral engagements.
This ruling marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battles within Pakistan’s political landscape, with implications for the electoral processes and party dynamics in the country.
