The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has moved the Peshawar High Court to challenged its single-bench ruling regarding the electoral ‘bat’ symbol of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). It has been reported that the ECP is urging the court to review PTI’s intra-party elections, including decisions related to the election symbol. The ECP has also requested the court to prioritize the plea before a division bench, emphasizing the greater public interest.
The ECP asserts its duty to conduct elections honestly, justly, fairly, and in accordance with the law. The petition highlights Article 218(3), which empowers the electoral body to organize and conduct elections, along with the responsibility for necessary arrangements before the polls.
The petition underscores the court’s observation that any challenge to the election process, from the issuance of the election program to various stages such as nomination paper filing, scrutiny, objections hearing, and actual polls, is significant. It argues that under Article 218(3), the ECP has the legal authority to preemptively exercise its powers to prevent a violation of election standards.
The ECP prayed the court to recall the “interim relief” granted by the single bench on December 26. While announcing a reserved verdict, the PHC suspended the ECP’s order and restored the party’s ‘bat’ symbol till a final decision on the petition. The court also stated that a double bench will hear the matter after winter vacations.
