The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has filed a contempt petition in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for its failure to comply with the court’s directives regarding the party’s electoral symbol—bat.
The PTI got a major relief the other day when the PHC declared the ECP’s ruling over the PTI’s intra-party election null and void.
The bench, comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Syed Arshad Ali, directed the ECP to promptly publish the certificate of the PTI’s intra-party polls on its website, citing section 209 of the Elections Act, 2017.
The controversy began when, on December 22, the ECP decided not to allow the PTI to retain its electoral symbol for the upcoming general elections, citing a failure to conduct intra-party polls in accordance with its constitution and election laws.
Subsequently, the PTI challenged the ECP’s decision before the PHC on December 26. A single-member bench granted a stay on the ECP’s order until January 9 and directed the case to be heard by a divisional bench.
On December 30, the ECP filed a review application, contending that the PHC had exceeded its jurisdiction. However, in a setback for the PTI, the high court withdrew the stay on the ECP’s order, once again depriving the party of its symbol.
In response, the PTI took the matter to the Supreme Court, but withdrew the appeal as the PHC was already adjudicating the case. The PHC, in a subsequent development, restored the ‘bat’ symbol to the PTI.
Meanwhile, the ECP on Thursday filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the PHC decision.
In its plea submitted to the top court, the ECP argued, “The Peshawar High Court decision should be declared illegal. PTI did not hold intra-party elections as per the Election Act.”
