ECP to review PHC verdict on ‘PTI bat symbol’ today

With the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) decision allowing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to keep its electoral symbol. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is anticipated to convene today (Thursday) to discuss options. This was reported by private news channel on Thursday.

The PHC ruling, which overturned the electoral body’s ruling to declare PTI’s intra-party polls “unconstitutional”. And deprive the party of its recognizable bat electoral symbol, will be up for debate at the ECP meeting.

On a joint petition filed by PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan and six other party leaders. A two-member bench of the PHC made up of Justices Ejaz Anwar and Syed Arshad Ali announced a brief order one day earlier. Asking the court to declare the ECP order illegal and without jurisdiction.

A detailed judgment will issued later.

The court directed the ECP to publish on its website the certificate filed by the PTI after holding intra-party polls.

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“It is further held and declared that the PTI is entitled to the election symbol strictly in terms of Sections 215. And 217 read with any other enabling provision of the Election Act 2017 and Election Rules 2017,” the order said.

After the verdict, the ECP held a brief consultative meeting on the situation arising out of restoration of the symbol of ‘bat’ for the PTI.

Sources in the commission told private news channel that certain legal and constitutional aspects of the matter discussed during the meeting.

The forum will have another but detailed session today (Thursday) where the law wing will brief the commission. And the members would also give their opinion on possible options.

They pointed out the ECP is expected to decide whether or not the PHC’s decision is to be challenged before the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Time constraints are a significant issue because, although the list of symbols was sent on Tuesday. The Returning Officers (ROs) have to assign poll symbols to the contesting candidates by January 13. The list does not include more than twelve symbols, including the symbol “bat.”