The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) submitted a review petition to the Peshawar High Court (PHC) challenging the court’s suspension of its previous ruling. This ruling prohibited the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), one of the three major political parties in Pakistan, from using a cricket bat as an electoral symbol in the forthcoming general election on February 8.
The ECP argued that the PHC’s verdict contravenes the Supreme Court’s dictum and violates the law. The commission also stated that the court’s jurisdiction was strictly territorial, while the allotment of the PTI’s symbol was a matter of national import.
The ECP’s directive was issued in compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling. The Supreme Court instructed the ECP to ensure a free and fair electoral process for the upcoming February general elections. The ECP had previously suspended the PTI due to alleged breaches of the Election Act, 2017, and the PTI Constitution, 2019. This led to the PTI being declared ineligible to use the bat election symbol under Section 215 of the Election Act.
The ECP, under its full financial independence and without governmental interference, is a permanent constitutional entity responsible for ensuring and safeguarding impartial elections for legislative entities and local governments. According to Article 218(3) of the Pakistan Constitution, the central mission of the ECP is to put an end to corrupt practices. However, despite fulfilling its responsibilities, the ECP has been criticized for perceived bias by the PTI and other political parties. Following the ECP’s suspensory order, the PTI filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court on December 23.
This comes after the December 30 rejection of the nomination for the upcoming general elections of former Prime Minister and PTI founder Imran Khan.