The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has challenged the Supreme Court's decision to withdraw their "bat" symbol in a review petition filed on Tuesday.
The party seeks a reversal of the ruling and restoration of the Peshawar High Court's verdict that allowed them to keep the symbol for intra-party elections. The party cites irregularities in the legal proceedings and unfair treatment by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The petition argues that the intra-party elections conducted to choose the party leadership were carried out according to the party's constitution. It further asserts that the ECP lacks the authority to review internal election matters and should not have interfered with the Peshawar High Court's earlier decision upholding the "bat" symbol.
The PTI accuses the ECP of "making all possible efforts to exclude them from the general elections" through various means. The petition details incidents where party candidates or their seconders were allegedly "abducted" by people in plain clothes in broad daylight and prevented from submitting nomination papers, suggesting deliberate attempts to hinder their participation.
Also Read: PTI loses its iconic 'bat' symbol again as SC annuls PHC verdict
They demand a "level playing field" from the ECP and urge the court to hold the commission accountable for its actions. Instead of taking action against those responsible, the election commission is going to jail and conducting proceedings against PTI Founder Imran Khan.
They argue that the ECP's decision to withdraw the symbol violates the fundamental rights of both the party and its voters, citing the right to form political parties and participate in elections enshrined in Pakistan's constitution.
The petition contends that the ECP exceeded its authority in withdrawing the symbol and said the Supreme Court did not properly evaluate the facts related to the intra-party elections. Withdrawal of election symbols from any political party is a violation of the fundamental rights of voters, the petition stated. It sought annulment of the ECP’s decision to withdraw the election symbol.
The PTI has named all complainants in the High Court case, including the ECP, as parties in its review petition. Senior advocates Hamid Khan and Barrister Ali Zafar represent the party in this legal challenge.
In a major blow to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Supreme Court on January 13 revoked its iconic cricket bat symbol and overturned the Peshawar High Court's verdict that reinstated it.
The apex court's ruling stemmed from allegations of irregularities in the PTI's internal elections held last year. While the Peshawar High Court had dismissed these allegations and restored the bat symbol, the Supreme Court deemed the elections "unconstitutional" and invalidated the symbol.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, while delivering the verdict, mentioned that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had received numerous complaints regarding PTI's intra-party elections.
