PTI moves Supreme Court to reclaim ‘bat’ symbol

The Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf (PTI) on Thursday moved the Supreme Court to reclaim the ‘bat’ symbol ahead of the 2024 general elections.

Newly appointed PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan requested the Supreme Court to fix the matter for hearing tomorrow (Friday) due to the urgent nature of the case.

The petition contended that the election commission’s application was not admissible, claiming that, unlike other political parties, the PTI is being discriminated against.

The development comes a day after the Peshawar High Court (PHC) revoked the stay order granted by its single-member bench, restoring the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to declare PTI intra-party polls null and void and stripping it of its election symbol.

“The Election Commission of Pakistan did not take any evidence into account while withdrawing the bat election symbol. The bat was taken away by deciding without considering evidence,” the petition stated.

“The Peshawar High Court also did not consider the facts in its judgement; its decision is illegal,” it said, adding that the high court judge misinterpreted the law and caused injustice.

The PTI in its filed application maintained that it was granted temporary relief on December 26, 2023, adding that it was not necessary to issue a notice to the parties concerned before the temporary relief.

“A temporary relief is granted under apprehensions of irreparable harm,” the application stated, adding that the Peshawar High Court had been told that there would be irreparable damage if the bat symbol was not allotted.

PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed his confidence in getting the “bat” symbol for the February 8 general elections.

Talking to the reporters, the PTI chairman said that they wanted swift action by the Supreme Court as the period set for the scrutiny of nomination papers, which was to be followed by allotment of party tickets.

As reported, the court has assigned a number to the PTI’s appeal.