The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Friday evening stripped off the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of its iconic ‘bat’ symbol – a sign that depicts its founder, Imran Khan’s former life of cricket.
Announcing its reserved verdict, a five-member ECP bench – headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja – declared PTI’s intra-party elections unlawful.
The 11-page order was announced on the petition of Akbar S Babar, a former PTI member, who claimed that the PTI did not stage the elections in line with the rules. This serves as a major blow to the party as it gears up for the February 8, 2024, elections, with its founder – PTI’s voter driving force – already behind for months – and his release does not seem soon.
“PTI has not complied with our directions […] and failed to hold intra-party election in accordance with PTI prevailing Constitution, 2019, and Election Act, 2017, and Election Rules, 2017,” the order read.
It was reported that with the elections being declared unlawful, Barrister Gohar Khan, who replaced Khan as the party’s chairman, is no longer the party’s top head.
The party also seems to be running out of time as the extended deadline for submitting the nomination papers expires on Sunday and the party only has one day (Saturday) to move courts against the ECP’s decision.
The PTI has complained repeatedly that it is being targeted and not being given a level playing field, but today, just hours before the order, the ECP had assured the party it would be provided equal opportunities.
According to political analysts, the election commission has “never” declared any political party’s internal polls unlawful.
In response, the PTI has announced knocking on the door of the courts to seek relief – and the decision will have to be on Saturday as if the deadline expires, there’s nothing that they can do to get the bat symbol.
“We will not boycott the elections […] we have a plan B,” Barrister Gohar told a private TV channel, without elaborating what the strategy was, as his party remains under immense pressure after back-to-back challenges.
Soon after the verdict, the paryt wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Ladla Sharif cannot compete on ground , he knows he stands no chance to win when the voters are Pakistanis. This yet another part of the famous London Plan, a disgusting and shameful attempt to stop PTI from election.
It added that the party will emerge victorious on February 8, the day when general elections will be held.
