Peshawar High Court Reverses Decision on PTI’s Election Symbol, Upholds ECP Verdict

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has delivered its long-awaited verdict on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s election symbol and intra-party elections, overturning its earlier stay order and endorsing the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision.

The court, accepting the ECP’s plea, withdrew its previous stay order, which had suspended the commission’s decision to annul the PTI’s intra-party poll and strip it of the bat election symbol. The ECP had argued that the court had issued the stay without allowing it to present its case.

With the PHC’s withdrawal of the stay order, the ECP’s original decision of December 22 against the PTI has been reinstated. The ECP, in a review petition filed in the PHC, sought an expedited hearing through the formation of a special two-member bench. The petition also requested the lifting of the injunction and the appointment of a divisional bench to oversee the case.

On December 22, the ECP had nullified the PTI’s intra-party election, leading to the revocation of the party’s bat symbol. In response, the PHC had initially suspended the Election Commission’s move on December 26.

The decision has sparked reactions from various quarters. PPP leader and senior lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan expressed dissatisfaction, calling it an injustice to the bat symbol. Ahsan questioned the Election Commission’s authority to disenfranchise millions of voters with a single decision, lamenting the perceived damage to the party.