ISLAMABAD: Amid confusion over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) 'bat' symbol, the party implemented Plan B and issued new tickets to candidates under another party's name: 'Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaf (PTI) Nazriati”. ”.
In a statement, the party today said it has issued new tickets to the national and provincial assembly candidates and directed them to submit the returns to the returning officer.
The development comes as the former ruling party's participation in the next general election, which is less than a month away, remains uncertain due to the ongoing saga surrounding its iconic 'bat' election symbol.
The party has been embroiled in a legal battle with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which had revoked its electoral symbol over irregularities in the party's internal elections, a move that would have prevented the party from contesting the polls altogether.
The PTI, however, filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) against the decision of the electoral body, which in response quashed the “incorrect” decision of the ECP and ordered the electoral watchdog to issue a certificate to the PTI and suspended the decision that stripped the party of its symbol.
“PTI is a political party entitled to an electoral symbol,” read the verdict of a two-member APS bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Arshad Ali.
The ECP subsequently challenged the PHC's decision in the high court and filed a petition seeking to set aside the provincial court's decision.
The case is currently being heard by the three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarat Hilali, and is likely that its result will have fundamental repercussions for the PTI. as if the court approved the ECP's petition, the party would lose its “bat symbol” once again.
However, fearing the worst, the party has taken a pre-emptive measure to ensure its participation in the elections scheduled for February 8, choosing to participate in the elections under the symbol of another party.
The measure comes when the electoral body's deadline for assigning electoral symbols to aspiring candidates ends today (Saturday). However, in a bid to facilitate the candidates, the ECP has extended the time saying that nominees can receive their election symbols from the returning officers until 7 pm.
More to continue….
