The Supreme Court’s decision to strip PTI of its iconic election symbol ‘bat’ has caused outrage among legal experts and political analysts. Barrister Asad Rahim Khan criticized the verdict as “utterly ludicrous” and activist Ammar Ali Jan called it “not just a defeat for PTI but a defeat for democratic norms in Pakistan.” Meanwhile, lawyer Reema Omer described the court’s decision as “excessive, punitive” and a blow to fundamental rights. Other experts expressed concern over the disenfranchisement of millions of voters and the negative impact on Pakistan’s democracy. Additionally, lawyer Hassan A. Niazi emphasized that the verdict sets a “terrible precedent” and contradicts the court’s own jurisprudence. The decision was also criticized for being inconsistent with the Elections Act and the Supreme Court’s own judgment in previous cases. Overall, the move was seen as blatant pre-poll rigging by some analysts.