In a big blow to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ahead of February 8 general elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday n...
In a big blow to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ahead of February 8 general elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday nullified the intra-party elections of the former ruling party, taking back the party's famous "cricket bat" symbol. The decision came hours after PTI met with the ECP officials following a Supreme Court order to remove the party's reservations regarding the lack of a level playing field. “So keeping in view, the clear mandate of Elections Act, 2017 read with PTI constitution 2019, it is held that PTI has not complied with our directions rendered therein order dated 23rd November, 2023 and failed to hold intra-party election in accordance with PTI prevailing Constitution, 2019 and Election Act, 2017, and Election Rules, 2017,” the ECP’s written order, available with The Express Tribune, stated. Order regarding PTI intra party election and ineligibility to obtain symbol bathttps://t.co/ligBkvyVfF — Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL) (@ECP_Pakistan) December 22, 2023 Read more: ECP told to decide PTI internal polls by today “Therefore, the certificate dated 4th December, 2023 and Form-65 filed by the alleged Chairman, is hereby regretted and rejected accordingly. The provisions of Section 215 of the Election Act, 2017 are hereby invoked and PTI is hereby declared ineligible to obtain, the Election Symbol, for which they have applied for.” The development comes a day after the Peshawar High Court ordered the ECP to settle the issues of the PTI’s intra-party polls and its electoral symbol by Friday (today). The PTI had also asked the PHC to direct the ECP to publish the results of its internal elections on the commission’s website – a step required by the party to contest the next general polls. In the intra-party elections held earlier this month on the ECP’s order, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was elected the PTI’s new chairman. Gohar was nominated by Imran Khan -- the PTI’s founding chairman, who was currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi's Adiala jail. However, PTI founding member Akbar S Babar, who later developed differences with its leadership, challenged the party's intra-party polls. In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, he requested that the PTI should not be allowed to use the ‘cricket bat’ as its electoral symbol until it held transparent intra-party polls. He also asked the commission to appoint an independent third-party monitor to conduct the PTI’s fresh intra-party polls. Babar further contended that the PTI had not disclosed the rules and regulations of the intra-party polls; their schedule and procedure; and time for the submission of nomination papers. On Monday, the ECP had reserved its verdict on petitions challenging the intra-party polls of PTI. A day later on Tuesday, the commission also reserved its judgment over the allotment of the electoral symbol of the 'cricket bat' to the PTI. Meanwhile, the PTI termed the move another part of the “London plan”. “Ladla [Nawaz] Sharif cannot compete on ground, he knows he stands no chance to win when the voters are Pakistanis,” the party wrote on its X handle. Ladla Sharif cannot compete on ground , he knows he stands no chance to win when the voters are Pakkstanis. This yet another part of the famous London Plan, a disgusting and shameful attempt to stop PTI from election. InshAllah, “the bat is not dead. Long live the bat”. We will… https://t.co/N0cm7rGjJU — PTI (@PTIofficial) December 22, 2023 “This yet another part of the famous London Plan, a disgusting and shameful attempt to stop PTI from election.”
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