“As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) presents its case before the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) regarding its ‘bat symbol,’ the party has initiated its ‘Plan B’ on Saturday. PTI has instructed its candidates to contest the upcoming elections on the tickets of another party, ‘Tehreek-e-Insaf Nazriati.’
The party issued a statement, urging national and provincial assembly candidates with ‘Tehreek Insaaf Nazriati’ tickets to promptly submit them to the returning officer.
This development arises as the former ruling party’s participation in the upcoming general elections, scheduled for less than a month away, remains uncertain due to the ongoing controversy surrounding its iconic electoral ‘bat’ symbol.
PTI has been entangled in a legal battle with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which revoked its electoral symbol due to irregularities in intra-party elections. This move would have barred the party from participating in the elections.
However, PTI challenged the ECP’s decision in the Peshawar High Court (PHC). The PHC annulled the ECP’s decision, terming it ‘incorrect,’ and directed the electoral watchdog to issue a certificate to PTI, suspending the decision to strip the party of its symbol.
The ECP contested the PHC’s decision in the Supreme Court, filing a petition to overrule the provincial court’s decision.
The three-member bench of the top court, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and including Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarat Hilali, is currently hearing the case. The outcome is anticipated to have significant repercussions for PTI. If the court upholds the ECP’s petition, the party might lose its ‘bat symbol’ again.
Fearing an unfavorable outcome, the party has taken a proactive step to ensure its participation in the February 8 polls by opting to contest the elections under another party’s symbol.
جن افراد کے پاس ”تحریک انصاف نظریاتی “کے ٹکٹ ہیں وہ فوری طور پر جمع کروا دیں
— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 13, 2024
اور کسی قسم کی رکاوٹ پر شکایات الیکشن کمیشن اور ہائی کورٹ میں لے کر جائیں pic.twitter.com/TyCcLARHTI
The move coincides with the ECP’s deadline for the allotment of electoral symbols to candidates, set to end on Saturday. However, the ECP has extended the deadline, allowing nominees to obtain their election symbols from returning officers until 7 pm to facilitate the candidates.”