ISLAMABAD: On Friday night, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lost its famous “bat” symbol, which represents Imran Khan, the party’s founder, playing cricket. This action was taken by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
A five-member ECP bench led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja pronounced the PTI’s intra-party elections illegal, announcing its reserved ruling.
The 11-page ruling was made in response to a plea filed by former PTI member Akbar S. Babar, who alleged that the PTI had not conducted the elections in accordance with the law.party has one day (Saturday) to file a court case contesting the ECP’s ruling.
The ECP had promised the party it will be given equal opportunity just hours before the order was issued, despite the PTI’s persistent complaints that it is being singled out and not being given a fair chance.
The PTI appears to be “under attack,” according to political expert Mazhar Abbas, who told Geo.tv that the electoral commission has “never” ruled that any political party’s internal polls are illegal.
This has never occurred. Abbas stated that although symbols have been retracted, this is the first occasion the ECP has issued an order regarding a party’s intra-party polls. Parties have chosen to use different techniques, as was the case with the polls from 1985, thus the PTI would
He continued by saying that the PTI might use social media to spread knowledge about its symbols and candidates’ names if its candidates run as independents. “But one thing is certain: The PTI is finding this election more and more difficult.”
In retaliation, the PTI declared that they would be knocking on the doors of the high court to request relief. The judgment will need to be made on Saturday since, after the deadline, they will be unable to obtain the bat emblem.
Barrister Gohar said Geo News, “We will not boycott the elections… we have a plan B,” without going into detail about the strategy because his party is still under a lot of pressure following back-to-back challenges.
Former secretary Kanwar Muhammad Dilshadf the ECP, said Geo News that PTI members would need to compete as independent candidates in the general elections in accordance with the commission’s directive.
“The PTI’s candidates will have to contest the polls independently since the party’s intra-party elections were rejected for the third time,” the speaker declared.
