The highest electoral body prepares a varied petition to request an immediate hearing in the superior court
- ECP files amended the reason after removing objections.
- Amended return filed without specific documents.
- Several allegations that will be presented for immediate hearing.
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday removed objections to its petition seeking to set aside the Peshawar High Court verdict in favor of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) intra-party polls and revival of its iconic electoral symbol.
The Supreme Court (SC) registrar's office had earlier that day returned the top electoral body's appeal after raising objections.
The appeal was filed against the PHC verdict overturning the ECP's decision to declare the PTI's intra-party polls “unconstitutional” and strip the former ruling party of its 'bat' symbol, a sign representing the former cricketing life of the founder of the party. party, Imran Khan.
However, the poll body submitted an amended return after deleting the documents to which the high court registrar raised objections.
Additionally, the commission prepared a miscellaneous petition to be submitted to the high court for immediate hearing of the amended return, Geographic news reported citing sources.
The ECP is likely to file the miscellaneous statement after the high court allocates the case number.
Minutes before the plea was filed in the high court, the Imran-led party filed a contempt of court petition against the ECP for its failure to comply with the court order to revive its 'bat' election symbol ahead of the 8 general elections. of February.
The party that came to power after the 2018 general elections maintained that the election commission committed “contempt of court” by not uploading the certificate regarding the PTI intra-party elections on its website despite receiving directives from the APS.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja, ECP members and secretary were accused in the case.
A day earlier, a two-member bench of the PHC, comprising Justice Ejaz Anwar and Justice Syed Arshad Ali, announced a short order on a petition filed jointly by PTI leader Gohar Ali Khan and six other party leaders. , pleading with the court to declare the ECP. order “null and void”.
The order stating the ruling of the highest electoral body issued on December 22, 2023 was “illegal, without any legal authority and without legal effect”, in addition to ordering the publication of the party certificate on the website.
After the verdict, the commission held a brief consultation meeting on the situation arising from the restoration of the 'bat' symbol for the PTI.
It is pertinent that the time constraint is a real challenge as the returning officers (ROs) have to allocate electoral symbols to the contesting candidates on January 13, who were sent the list of symbols on Tuesday and the list did not contain more of a dozen symbols. , including “bat”.
