An important meeting of the Election Commission is expected today to assess the review of the Peshawar High Court’s decision regarding the PTI electoral symbol. The commission will discuss whether to challenge the Peshawar High Court’s ruling in the Supreme Court or proceed with its implementation.
The Peshawar High Court had invalidated the PTI electoral symbol, ‘Balla’ (bat), instructing the Election Commission to lift the ban. It’s worth noting that the court has also directed the Election Commission to issue the certification for PTI. On the other hand, Ali Zafar, the counsel for PTI, stated that if the Election Commission does not reinstate the electoral symbol, it would be considered a contempt of court. He added that they are prepared to present arguments in the Supreme Court if the decision is challenged there.
The matter of PTI’s electoral symbol dates back to December 22, 2023, when the Election Commission declared PTI’s intra-party elections void, depriving them of the ‘Balla’ symbol. PTI had filed a petition against the Election Commission’s decision in the Peshawar High Court.
Justice Kamran Hayat had issued a stay order on December 26, and after hearings, the Peshawar High Court reinstated PTI’s electoral symbol on January 9. The Election Commission, dissatisfied with the stay order, filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court on December 30. A special bench, headed by Justice Ijaz Khan, concluded the stay order on January 3, reinstating the Election Commission’s decision. PTI has subsequently appealed against this decision.
