The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa, remarked that the violation of the PTI’s party constitution has been proved up to the extent of the party chairman’s election. The comment was made during a hearing of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) petition challenging the Peshawar High Court’s decision to restore the PTI’s ‘bat’ election symbol. The ECP had previously decided against allowing the PTI to retain its electoral symbol for the general elections, citing failure to hold intra-party polls in accordance with its constitution and election laws.
The PTI had approached the PHC against the ECP order, and the high court had initially restored the party’s electoral symbol. However, the PTI’s symbol was later revoked again by the high court. The PTI then moved the Supreme Court against the restoration of the ECP ruling. The PHC had declared the ECP’s decision to revoke the PTI’s symbol as “illegal” and “without any lawful authority”.
The hearing in the Supreme Court continued with the PTI’s counsel arguing that the ECP did not have the authority to review the party’s intra-party elections. The ECP’s petition highlighted that the PHC’s order contradicted previous Supreme Court rulings and undermined the principles of democracy and transparency within political parties.
The SC is expected to announce its verdict on the ECP’s appeal, as returning officers are set to allocate poll symbols to electoral candidates. During the hearing, the CJP emphasized the importance of democracy and transparency within both the country and political parties. The matter is considered time-sensitive with the general elections approaching, and the proceedings are being broadcast live on the SC’s website and YouTube.