ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan clarified that the bat symbol was not allocated to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians.
The ECP spokesperson, in a statement on Monday evening, affirmed that neither PTI-P nor any other party had been granted this symbol.
Pervez Khattak of PTI-P had mentioned on Monday that he was offered the bat symbol but opted not to accept it.
However, he did not disclose the source of the offer. Khattak emphasized that the election symbol held little significance for him and that he would only participate in elections under the specific symbol he had requested.
Traditionally associated with PTI, the symbol was recently withdrawn due to the party’s non-compliance with its internal constitution regarding intra-party elections.
PTI challenging bat symbol issue in PHC
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced its intention to challenge the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision deeming its intra-party polls unconstitutional and revoking the party’s iconic ‘bat’ symbol. This move is set to take place in the Peshawar High Court on Tuesday.
The ECP nullified the PTI’s internal elections for the second time within a month when Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was elected as the new chairman. The ECP’s ruling, based on a microscopic examination of the party’s internal workings, rendered PTI ineligible for an election symbol for the upcoming general elections.
The ECP’s 11-page order stated that PTI had not complied with directives and failed to conduct intra-party elections according to its constitution and relevant electoral laws.
The PTI, however, rejected the decision, labeling it as part of the “famous London Plan” and an attempt to prevent the party from participating in the elections.
The party expressed confidence in winning the general elections and declared its intention to appeal the decision at every available forum. The PTI insisted that its candidates would contest the polls with the ‘bat’ symbol despite the ECP’s ruling.
PTI lawyer and central information secretary Mohammad Muazzam Butt announced that the party would file a writ petition in the Peshawar High Court on December 26. He argued that the ECP’s decision was legally flawed and accused the commission of failing to deliver justice.
