PHC withdrew stay order resulting PTI lost party registration and ‘bat’ symbol

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday reinstated the Election Commission of Pakistan’s December 22 order which declared PTI’s intra-party polls “unconstitutional” and revoked the party’s iconic ‘bat’ electoral symbol.

Peshawar High Court’s Justice Ejaz Khan announced the verdict today. The Election Commission of Pakistan filed pleas against the PHC’s December 26 decision, which had suspended the ECP’s order and restored the party’s ‘bat’ symbol till a final decision on the matter.

On December 22, ECP declared PTI’s intra-party polls “illegal” and stripped it of using the ‘bat’ symbol.

Read Also : Peshawar High Court restores PTI’s bat symbol

PTI to challenge ECP order in Supreme Court 

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan vowed to go to the Supreme Court tomorrow against the PHC decision.

Barrister Gohar said if bat (symbol) is not given, plan B is also ready, adding, I am 99% sure that the Supreme Court will give us the bat sign – if we were not given the “bat” sign, democracy will be damaged. We will not boycott the election in any case.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan assured that Whatever happens, PTI will not boycott the election.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s senior lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan called the (PHC) decision injusticeful.

The veteran lawyer asked how the ECP could take away the right of millions of voters with a stroke of pen, adding that only the Supreme Court had the power to render a political party ineffective.