PTI seeks to retain ‘bat’ as electoral symbol

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has insisted that the “bat” will remain the party’s electoral symbol in the general election.

The Election Commission of Pakistan conducted a hearing after sending a notice on conducting intra-party elections or the party risks losing election symbol and registration.

Speaking after a hearing on conducting intra-party elections, PTI lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar said the ECP stated the notice that PTI did not conduct intra-party elections.

The lawyer said the “bat” has been the PTI’s election symbol ever since the party was formed He said the PTI held intra-party elections in June 2022.  He said PTI will not withdraw from the election and bat will remain the electoral symbol.

A three-member bench chaired by ECP member Nisar Ali Durrani conducted the heading PTI’s lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar appeared before the commission

The lawyer told the commission that intra-party elections were held on 10 June 2022, as per the party constitution. After the election, the party constitution was amended in August 2022, he said, noting that the intra-party elections were held before the amendment.

The ECP member said the party elections were under the 2019 constitution. The PTI counsel agreed and said the party’s election commissioner has verbally stated to withdraw the 2019 amendment.

When asked if the 2019 amendment has been withdrawn, the PTI lawyer said there was a mistake in the notice and the party is instead withdrawing the 2022 amendment.

The ECP member said the intra-party election should be conducted after the amendment. He said the entire party constitution has been changed. Barrister Ali Zafar said Anwar Mansoor made a mistake and will submit an affidavit.

He said PTI’s intra-party elections were held on 10 June 2022 under the amended party constitution. On August 1, 2022, PTI again amended the party constitution.

He said PTI’s lawyers spoke of withdrawing the amendment verbally which was made a part of the ruling based on a misunderstanding. When asked why he remained silent, the lawyer said he came to issue a clarification.

ECP member Ahsan Bharwana said the notice was issued as the amendment in the party constitution couldn’t be made. ECP’s member Durrani asked to submit a reply to the misunderstanding.

Special Secretary Zafar Iqbal said the PTI has changed the procedure of conducting elections in the party constitution which needs to be examined. The hearing of the case was adjourned till August 30