SC upholds ECP plea, deprives PTI of ‘bat’ symbol

[The Bald Eagle]

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday decided against letting the PTI retain its ‘bat’ electoral symbol for the February 8 general election.

According to the ECP, the PTI was unsuccessful in conducting intra-party elections.

The reserved verdict was announced a day after the Peshawar High Court (PHC) directed the electoral watchdog to decide on PTI’s intra-party polls and electoral symbol by today in “accordance with the law”.

The development also came hours after the PTI met with the commission following the Supreme Court’s order for the ECP to address the party’s concerns regarding lack of a level playing field in the run up to the polls.

Setting a new precedence, the ECP had taken notice of the PTI’s intra-party in which Barrister Gohar Ali was easily elected as the party’s new chairman.

The polls were held on December 3, days after the ECP declared as null and void the intra-party polls held in June 2022, giving the PTI 20 days to hold fresh elections or be ready to become ineligible for the poll symbol.

However, the party was on the receiving end of sharp criticism over the polls as estranged PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar announced that he would challenge the entire process. He had alleged that the PTI had carried out a selection process aimed at throwing out party workers to give the reins to a few lawyers.

Subsequently, Akbar had approached the ECP against the intra-party elections, alleging it was “rigged and fraudulent”. Various other petitions were also submitted to the ECP along similar lines as Babar’s with the mutual demands of declaring the intra-party election without effect and orders for the exercise to be carried out anew.

On Tuesday, a five-member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, had reserved judgement on the matter linked to the allocation of the ‘bat’ as the PTI’s electoral symbol.

Moments after news of the ECP’s decision was aired, the PTI took to X to term the decision part of the “famous London Plan” and a “disgusting and shameful attempt to stop PTI from [participating in the] election.”

Talking to Geo News, former ECP secretary Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said after the decision, the party’s electoral candidates would have to contest the general elections as independent candidates.

He said the party had the option to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court.

Dilshad also said that there was no provision in the country’s election laws which allowed for intra-party polls to be held repeatedly.

“Since the PTI’s intra-party elections were rejected a third time, its candidates would have to contest the polls independently,” he said.

It claimed that the party would still win the general elections.

Source : Dawn News

 

[shah_1]

Decision taken by Establishment. All intra party elections are a farce

 

[Bewal Express]

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday decided against letting the PTI retain its ‘bat’ electoral symbol for the February 8 general election.

According to the ECP, the PTI was unsuccessful in conducting intra-party elections.

The reserved verdict was announced a day after the Peshawar High Court (PHC) directed the electoral watchdog to decide on PTI’s intra-party polls and electoral symbol by today in “accordance with the law”.

The development also came hours after the PTI met with the commission following the Supreme Court’s order for the ECP to address the party’s concerns regarding lack of a level playing field in the run up to the polls.

Setting a new precedence, the ECP had taken notice of the PTI’s intra-party in which Barrister Gohar Ali was easily elected as the party’s new chairman.

The polls were held on December 3, days after the ECP declared as null and void the intra-party polls held in June 2022, giving the PTI 20 days to hold fresh elections or be ready to become ineligible for the poll symbol.

However, the party was on the receiving end of sharp criticism over the polls as estranged PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar announced that he would challenge the entire process. He had alleged that the PTI had carried out a selection process aimed at throwing out party workers to give the reins to a few lawyers.

Subsequently, Akbar had approached the ECP against the intra-party elections, alleging it was “rigged and fraudulent”. Various other petitions were also submitted to the ECP along similar lines as Babar’s with the mutual demands of declaring the intra-party election without effect and orders for the exercise to be carried out anew.

On Tuesday, a five-member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, had reserved judgement on the matter linked to the allocation of the ‘bat’ as the PTI’s electoral symbol.

Moments after news of the ECP’s decision was aired, the PTI took to X to term the decision part of the “famous London Plan” and a “disgusting and shameful attempt to stop PTI from [participating in the] election.”

Talking to Geo News, former ECP secretary Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said after the decision, the party’s electoral candidates would have to contest the general elections as independent candidates.

He said the party had the option to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court.

Dilshad also said that there was no provision in the country’s election laws which allowed for intra-party polls to be held repeatedly.

“Since the PTI’s intra-party elections were rejected a third time, its candidates would have to contest the polls independently,” he said.

It claimed that the party would still win the general elections.

Source : Dawn News

This was so predictable and is so pathetic. The only party that held the elections lost its symbol on the complaints of people that aren't even members.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

They are trying everything to somehow block PTI's way but trust me even after such obstacles PTI will become a leading party in the upcoming elections.

If and only If establishment gives them 30% of the level playing field.

 

[BouncerGuy]

PTI people will be amazed that ECP is only taking interest in the PTI intra-party elections atm. How can this be a level playing field and free and fair elections when just 1 party is targeted?

Taking the Bat symbol will back fire for those who want to get rid of Imran khan.

 

[Varun]

Imran Khan and his party have been completely dismantled in a matter of months.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

They are trying everything to somehow block PTI's way but trust me even after such obstacles PTI will become a leading party in the upcoming elections.

If and only If establishment gives them 30% of the level playing field.

And I believe PTI has still many tricks up their sleeves. Such actions can't suppress their momentum.

 

[Bewal Express]

Imran Khan and his party have been completely dismantled in a matter of months.

Not quite. The base is incredibly strong. In any free elections NS, SS and Nani can't win their own seats.

 

[Bewal Express]

PTI people will be amazed that ECP is only taking interest in the PTI intra-party elections atm. How can this be a level playing field and free and fair elections when just 1 party is targeted?

Taking the Bat symbol will back fire for those who want to get rid of Imran khan.

Not after seeing their crookedness for the last 2 years. No surprised at all.

 

[Varun]

Not quite. The base is incredibly strong. In any free elections NS, SS and Nani can't win their own seats.

Flash news: There will be no free elections. The 2013 and 2018 ones weren't free either. The respective winners were pre-decided at the Pentagon and Rawalpindi, and ensured that their tenures will never be the full 5 years long.

 

[FearlessRoar]

PTI leader Gohar Khan says that the country cannot afford chaos, Supreme Court and High Court are both options. Barrister Gohar Khan while talking to the media said that the country cannot afford chaos, Supreme Court and High Court are both options.

He said that he will challenge the decision of the Election Commission in the court. PTI was stripped of its bat sign. We request the Judiciary to hear our petition whenever it comes, reject the decision of the Election Commission, such actions are part of the conspiracy.

He further said that an appeal can be filed in the Supreme Court under Section 184, the seats will be given to independent candidates if the election symbols are stopped, the decision of the Election Commission will be challenged in the High Court and the Supreme Court.

Source: Neo Network News

 

[FearlessRoar]

Whether it's a cricket bat or a bat (bird), it doesn't matter. The main thing is what you do for the well-being of the people in Pakistan, which no one is focusing on.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Ex-PM Khan’s party to challenge election regulator’s decision on party symbol on Tuesday

Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party announced on Saturday it would challenge the country’s election regulator’s decision of taking back its election symbol, a cricket bat, in a court on Tuesday, hoping the judiciary would restore it back to the party.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the decision after a disgruntled PTI leader, Akbar S. Babar, challenged the PTI’s intraparty elections held on Dec. 2 and urged the watchdog to declare the exercise null and void for violating rules. Babar said the PTI had neither displayed a final list of candidates nor was any paperwork done for the polls.

Last month, the ECP declared the PTI’s intraparty elections in June 2022 as invalid, giving the party 20 days to rearrange the contest to retain cricket bat as its election symbol for which it had applied. The PTI elected Barrister Gohar Khan as its chairman along with other office bearers and submitted the results with the election commission.

However, the ECP announced its verdict on Friday, ruling that the PTI had not complied with its directions and failed to hold intraparty election in accordance with the party’s own constitution along with the Election Act, 2017, and Election Rules, 2017.

The decision, which led to the party losing its election symbol, was described as “flawed, illegal, biased and a serious attack on the transparency of the elections” by a PTI spokesperson. “We have done all the consultation,” Barrister Khan told reporters in Rawalpindi. “It’s just that we have not received the order of the election commission. The moment we get its certified copy, we will file our petitions on Tuesday morning since there is Christmas and Quaid-e-Azam Day on Monday.”

He maintained the ECP’s decision was not sustainable, adding that the judiciary would restore the party’s election symbol.
Earlier, the PTI said in a statement the electoral watchdog had once again proved it was not interested in conducting free and transparent polls.“ This biased, prejudiced and illegal verdict by the commission could not stand and it would be challenged in the Supreme Court.”

Election symbols are crucial in Pakistan where the adult literacy rate is just 58 percent, according to World Bank data.
The bat is reflective of Khan’s past as a successful cricketer. The former prime minister led Pakistan to their only 50-over World Cup win in 1992, propelling him to an unrivaled position among Pakistan’s cricket greats.
The ECP decision came less than two months before Pakistan is scheduled to head to the polls, but the PTI said it would contest and win the upcoming elections.
“The PTI would contest the forthcoming general elections with its electoral symbol of ‘bat’ and would secure historic victory in the polls despite all odds,” the PTI statement read.

The attempts to deprive the representative political party of millions of Pakistanis of its electoral symbol and to keep it “out of the electoral process” would never succeed, it added.
Political parties and their members in Pakistan are often tangled in legal proceedings that rights monitors say are orchestrated by the powerful military, which has ruled the country directly for more than half of its history and continues to enjoy immense power.
Khan’s PTI party has also been struggling against a widespread crackdown, with leading party figures either jailed or forced to leave the party. The ex-premier, who has been locked up since August, has accused Pakistan’s powerful military, the ECP, and his political rivals of colluding to keep him and the PTI out of elections. Pakistan’s military, the ECP, and the caretaker government deny the allegations.

Source : Arab News

 

[The Bald Eagle]

PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court on Tuesday suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) verdict which declared PTI’s intra-party elections ‘unlawful’ and stripped the party of its iconic ‘bat’ electoral symbol.

On December 2, the ECP had nullified Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s intra-party elections, for the third time since last year, declaring the PTI ineligible for obtaining its traditional electoral symbol of ‘bat’.

In its verdict, the ECP said, “So keeping in view the clear mandate of Elections Act 2017 – it is held that PTI has not complied with our directions rendered therein order dated 23rd November, 2023 and failed to hold intra-party election in accordance with PTI prevailing Constitution 2019 and Elections Act 2017, and Election Rules, 2017.

Therefore, the certificate dated 4th December, 2023 and Form-65 filed by the alleged chairman, is hereby regretted and rejected accordingly.

PTI’s intraparty elections, in which Barrister Gohar Khan was elected as chairman of the party, were held on December 2. The polls had drawn a sharp criticism as estranged PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar announced that he would challenge the entire process.

He had alleged that the PTI had carried out a selection process aimed at throwing out party workers to give the reins to a few lawyers.

Source : Ary News

 

[Bewal Express]

PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court on Tuesday suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) verdict which declared PTI’s intra-party elections ‘unlawful’ and stripped the party of its iconic ‘bat’ electoral symbol.

On December 2, the ECP had nullified Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s intra-party elections, for the third time since last year, declaring the PTI ineligible for obtaining its traditional electoral symbol of ‘bat’.

In its verdict, the ECP said, “So keeping in view the clear mandate of Elections Act 2017 – it is held that PTI has not complied with our directions rendered therein order dated 23rd November, 2023 and failed to hold intra-party election in accordance with PTI prevailing Constitution 2019 and Elections Act 2017, and Election Rules, 2017.

Therefore, the certificate dated 4th December, 2023 and Form-65 filed by the alleged chairman, is hereby regretted and rejected accordingly.

PTI’s intraparty elections, in which Barrister Gohar Khan was elected as chairman of the party, were held on December 2. The polls had drawn a sharp criticism as estranged PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar announced that he would challenge the entire process.

He had alleged that the PTI had carried out a selection process aimed at throwing out party workers to give the reins to a few lawyers.

Source : Ary News

Watch the judges families get kidnapped. I am not certain how judges get appointed in PK but what I do know is that 75% of the judges in LHC and IHC are being blackmailed. And more than half in the SC are corrupt. The champion of human rights Qazi isa is more desperate to listen to cases from 40 years than cases about murder, torture and kidnappings happening today. He is awfully quiet about the guys that shredded the constitution over the elections.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Pervaiz Khattak claims was offered ‘bat’ symbol but he declined

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTI-P) head Pervaiz Khattak claimed that he was offered ‘bat’ as an election symbol but he declined that offer, ARY News reported.

Talking to media in Peshawar, the former chief minister KP said that PTI founder Imran Khan thinks of the people of KP as fools however he was in power but didn’t meet the finances of the province.

He lambasted former PM Khan, saying he propagated development but his real agenda was to spread anarchy.

Khattak maintained that he wants development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and no confrontation with state institutions.

as Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the reserved verdict on the party’s intra-party elections. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) earlier reserved its verdict on pleas challenging the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) intra-party elections after hearing arguments from all the parties.

Announcing the reserved verdict, a five-member bench of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), headed by Chief Election Commissioner, Sikandar Sultan Raja, declared the PTI’s intra-party elections null and void.

Following the ECP verdict, the newly elected PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan who replaced Imran Khan earlier, will no longer remain as party’s head.

Source : Ary News

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Ano

Pervaiz Khattak claims was offered ‘bat’ symbol but he declined

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTI-P) head Pervaiz Khattak claimed that he was offered ‘bat’ as an election symbol but he declined that offer, ARY News reported.

Talking to media in Peshawar, the former chief minister KP said that PTI founder Imran Khan thinks of the people of KP as fools however he was in power but didn’t meet the finances of the province.

He lambasted former PM Khan, saying he propagated development but his real agenda was to spread anarchy.

Khattak maintained that he wants development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and no confrontation with state institutions.

as Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the reserved verdict on the party’s intra-party elections. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) earlier reserved its verdict on pleas challenging the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) intra-party elections after hearing arguments from all the parties.

Announcing the reserved verdict, a five-member bench of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), headed by Chief Election Commissioner, Sikandar Sultan Raja, declared the PTI’s intra-party elections null and void.

Following the ECP verdict, the newly elected PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan who replaced Imran Khan earlier, will no longer remain as party’s head.

Source : Ary News

There embarrassment for ECP. PTI gets their symbol back. Can PTI sweep the election in Iran's absence. Will have to see..

 

[Bewal Express]

Pervaiz Khattak claims was offered ‘bat’ symbol but he declined

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTI-P) head Pervaiz Khattak claimed that he was offered ‘bat’ as an election symbol but he declined that offer, ARY News reported.

Talking to media in Peshawar, the former chief minister KP said that PTI founder Imran Khan thinks of the people of KP as fools however he was in power but didn’t meet the finances of the province.

He lambasted former PM Khan, saying he propagated development but his real agenda was to spread anarchy.

Khattak maintained that he wants development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and no confrontation with state institutions.

as Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the reserved verdict on the party’s intra-party elections. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) earlier reserved its verdict on pleas challenging the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) intra-party elections after hearing arguments from all the parties.

Announcing the reserved verdict, a five-member bench of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), headed by Chief Election Commissioner, Sikandar Sultan Raja, declared the PTI’s intra-party elections null and void.

Following the ECP verdict, the newly elected PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan who replaced Imran Khan earlier, will no longer remain as party’s head.

Source : Ary News

This is a confession of criminality. If the decision was only made last week, why was he offered this before the " decision". The ECP has destroyed any credibility and Sultan Raja should have article 6 imposed on him

 

[The Bald Eagle]

This is a confession of criminality. If the decision was only made last week, why was he offered this before the " decision". The ECP has destroyed any credibility and Sultan Raja should have article 6 imposed on him

Sultan Raja looks like an establishment puppet.

 

[Bewal Express]

Sultan Raja looks like an establishment puppet.

He has done all those at the behest of criminals. Todays decision is temporary relief because it seems to be decision to force NS to give more seats to PIP in Punjab. As soon NS backs down, PTI will lose its bat symbol. Our Judiciary isnt rated amongst the worst in the world without reason.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Shehbaz terms PHC’s verdict on ‘bat’ symbol attack on ECP’s authority

Shehbaz Sharif, the President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and former prime minister, has likened the Peshawar High Court's (PHC) decision to suspend the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) ruling on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) iconic bat symbol to an “attack” on the commission's authority.

On Tuesday, the PHC had suspended the ECP decision to nullify the PTI's intra-party polls and revoke its popular 'cricket bat' symbol.

"As elections are scheduled to be held on 8th February, 2024 and last date for allotment of election symbols is 13th January, 2024, so keeping in view the urgency that a political party has been denuded of its symbol, meaning thereby that aspirants from the general public who were willing to vote for the petitioners' party were divested of their right to vote as per their choice,” it added.

The court in its order directed the commission to publish the PTI’s certificate on its website and restore the electoral symbol of the party.

Addressing party workers during a ceremony at a private hotel in Karachi, Shehbaz said that the ECP’s decision was based on facts and PHC’s decision was tantamount to challenging the commission's authority.

He remarked that the scales of justice appeared to be swaying favourably towards a "ladla" (darling), alluding to the former prime minister Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail in connection with the £190 million settlement and Toshakhana cases.

“That same ladla, who had attacked military installations on May 9, was greeted with ‘good to see you’ remarks in Supreme Court,” he added.

He urged a unified response to such court decisions and said that everyone should speak collectively on such verdicts and raise their voices in a resolute manner.

Later, the former prime minister extended congratulations to those joining the party, asserting that a significant number of people and political leaders in Sindh have placed their trust in the PML-N. "I welcome everyone who has joined us," he added.

Regarding the upcoming elections on February 8, he expressed full preparedness, stating, "The outcome is in Allah's hands. Through the ladla, the country suffered destruction, and now efforts are underway to recreate such an environment."

Source: Express Tribune

PML-N terms PHC decision an attack on ECP | The Express Tribune

Shehbaz says ruling for restoration of PTI’s electoral symbol reeks of partisanship

tribune.com.pk

 

[Bewal Express]

Shehbaz terms PHC’s verdict on ‘bat’ symbol attack on ECP’s authority

Shehbaz Sharif, the President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and former prime minister, has likened the Peshawar High Court's (PHC) decision to suspend the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) ruling on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) iconic bat symbol to an “attack” on the commission's authority.

On Tuesday, the PHC had suspended the ECP decision to nullify the PTI's intra-party polls and revoke its popular 'cricket bat' symbol.

"As elections are scheduled to be held on 8th February, 2024 and last date for allotment of election symbols is 13th January, 2024, so keeping in view the urgency that a political party has been denuded of its symbol, meaning thereby that aspirants from the general public who were willing to vote for the petitioners' party were divested of their right to vote as per their choice,” it added.

The court in its order directed the commission to publish the PTI’s certificate on its website and restore the electoral symbol of the party.

Addressing party workers during a ceremony at a private hotel in Karachi, Shehbaz said that the ECP’s decision was based on facts and PHC’s decision was tantamount to challenging the commission's authority.

He remarked that the scales of justice appeared to be swaying favourably towards a "ladla" (darling), alluding to the former prime minister Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail in connection with the £190 million settlement and Toshakhana cases.

“That same ladla, who had attacked military installations on May 9, was greeted with ‘good to see you’ remarks in Supreme Court,” he added.

He urged a unified response to such court decisions and said that everyone should speak collectively on such verdicts and raise their voices in a resolute manner.

Later, the former prime minister extended congratulations to those joining the party, asserting that a significant number of people and political leaders in Sindh have placed their trust in the PML-N. "I welcome everyone who has joined us," he added.

Regarding the upcoming elections on February 8, he expressed full preparedness, stating, "The outcome is in Allah's hands. Through the ladla, the country suffered destruction, and now efforts are underway to recreate such an environment."

Source: Express Tribune

PML-N terms PHC decision an attack on ECP | The Express Tribune

Shehbaz says ruling for restoration of PTI’s electoral symbol reeks of partisanship

tribune.com.pk

This criminal should have said that he agreed with the establishment in the London plan that they lose the symbol for no reason.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Shehbaz terms PHC’s verdict on ‘bat’ symbol attack on ECP’s authority

Shehbaz Sharif, the President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and former prime minister, has likened the Peshawar High Court's (PHC) decision to suspend the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) ruling on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) iconic bat symbol to an “attack” on the commission's authority.

On Tuesday, the PHC had suspended the ECP decision to nullify the PTI's intra-party polls and revoke its popular 'cricket bat' symbol.

"As elections are scheduled to be held on 8th February, 2024 and last date for allotment of election symbols is 13th January, 2024, so keeping in view the urgency that a political party has been denuded of its symbol, meaning thereby that aspirants from the general public who were willing to vote for the petitioners' party were divested of their right to vote as per their choice,” it added.

The court in its order directed the commission to publish the PTI’s certificate on its website and restore the electoral symbol of the party.

Addressing party workers during a ceremony at a private hotel in Karachi, Shehbaz said that the ECP’s decision was based on facts and PHC’s decision was tantamount to challenging the commission's authority.

He remarked that the scales of justice appeared to be swaying favourably towards a "ladla" (darling), alluding to the former prime minister Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail in connection with the £190 million settlement and Toshakhana cases.

“That same ladla, who had attacked military installations on May 9, was greeted with ‘good to see you’ remarks in Supreme Court,” he added.

He urged a unified response to such court decisions and said that everyone should speak collectively on such verdicts and raise their voices in a resolute manner.

Later, the former prime minister extended congratulations to those joining the party, asserting that a significant number of people and political leaders in Sindh have placed their trust in the PML-N. "I welcome everyone who has joined us," he added.

Regarding the upcoming elections on February 8, he expressed full preparedness, stating, "The outcome is in Allah's hands. Through the ladla, the country suffered destruction, and now efforts are underway to recreate such an environment."

Source: Express Tribune

PML-N terms PHC decision an attack on ECP | The Express Tribune

Shehbaz says ruling for restoration of PTI’s electoral symbol reeks of partisanship

tribune.com.pk

Hahah... I don't know why he is criticizing this decision. Would N league be happy if they get deprived of their electoral symbol? The answer is no then why are they opposing this verdict.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

PTI alleges conspiracies being hatched to snatch electoral symbol ‘bat’

The PTI on Friday alleged that conspiracies were being hatched to snatch its iconic electoral symbol ‘bat’ and exclude the party from the February 8 general elections.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the PTI have been in “bat blood” over the past few days. The controversy stems from the electoral watchdog’s earlier decision to strip PTI of its symbol following the annulment of its intra-party elections for not complying with the Elections Act and the party’s own constitution.

Earlier this week, the Peshawar High Court suspended the commission’s order and directed it to publish the certificate of PTI’s intra-party polls on its website “keeping in view the urgency, that a political party has been denuded of its symbol, meaning hearby that aspirants from the general public who were willing to vote for the petitioners’ party were divested of their right to vote as per their choice”.

The PHC verdict was criticised by several political leaders, including JUI-F’s Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad today, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said the ‘bat’ was not just the PTI’s electoral symbol but was also the symbol of the expectations of the Pakistani nation.

“The Supreme Court has settled that snatching the electoral symbol is equivalent to dissolving a political party and this right only lies with the apex court in Article 17 [of the Constitution],” he said.

“All these political leaders [of the Pakistan Democratic Movement] won’t be able to gain anything on February 8. They will all lose their seats if free, fair and transparent elections are conducted,” Barrister Gohar said. “Therefore they are trying to take the ‘bat’ away from us.”

The PTI chairman stressed that he was a representative of Imran, asserting that the former prime minister “was, is and will always remain our leader” irrespective of wherever he was.

Mentioning these remarks, Justice Aurangzeb said the AGP and advocate general were representing the caretaker government and should therefore be impartial.

“A terrible system is being run under the interim government where even consultation on elections is not allowed,” he remarked, asking if the caretakers wanted to “derail the polls”.

Subsequently, the court allowed PTI lawyers, including Chairman Gohar Khan, to hold consultations with Imran in jail. The court also passed orders for a meeting between Gohar and the ex-premier to be held under the supervision of the jail superintendent.

“Permission for consultations on polls is a fundamental right,” Justice Aurangzeb said, stressing that the caretaker government should be “neutral” during elections.

“Opposing meetings between PTI chairman and Imran raises questions on the neutrality of the interim set-up,” the judge added and disposed of the petition.

Talking to reporters, PTI lawyer Shaheen said the caretakers “are actually chair takers and everyone can see on whose orders they are functioning”.

“They all have a problem with the fact that Imran Khan and the nation are on one page. Today, the public is standing with Imran Khan,” he asserted, adding that the ECP and elite political parties were seeing their defeat.

“What is the capacity or credibility left of this puppet caretaker government?” the lawyer asked. He also criticised the police maltreatment of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi outside Adiala Jail earlier this week.

Source : Dawn News

 

[Cricket Warrior]

They are trying their best to somehow block their ways.

I don't know what sort of democratic elections this going to happen

 

[FearlessRoar]

Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) Patron-in-Chief Jahangir Khan Tareen on Friday took a jibe at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, saying that a crippled party could not be resurrected with the crutches of an election symbol – ‘cricket bat’.

The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday had suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to nullify the PTI’s intra-party polls and revoke its popular symbol.

The PHC in its order directed the electoral body to publish the PTI’s certificate on its website and restore its electoral symbol.

In a statement issued here, the IPP chief termed the PHC's decision contrary to public expectations.”

Tareen said that it was the ECP's authority to give or withdraw the election symbol to any political party. He said the nation was deeply concerned about the unilateral and hasty decisions taken on the current domestic and political situation.

Tareen said, “Those who undermine the foundations of the country do not deserve any concession. Why should those who caused damage to the identity of Pakistan at the international level be treated leniently?”

The IPP chief accused the former ruling PTI of playing with the country’s economy for three-and-a-half years.

Source: Express Tribune

Crippled party can’t be resurrected with ‘bat’ | The Express Tribune

Tareen terms PHC's decision contrary to public expectations

tribune.com.pk

 

[Bewal Express]

Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) Patron-in-Chief Jahangir Khan Tareen on Friday took a jibe at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, saying that a crippled party could not be resurrected with the crutches of an election symbol – ‘cricket bat’.

The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday had suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to nullify the PTI’s intra-party polls and revoke its popular symbol.

The PHC in its order directed the electoral body to publish the PTI’s certificate on its website and restore its electoral symbol.

In a statement issued here, the IPP chief termed the PHC's decision contrary to public expectations.”

Tareen said that it was the ECP's authority to give or withdraw the election symbol to any political party. He said the nation was deeply concerned about the unilateral and hasty decisions taken on the current domestic and political situation.

Tareen said, “Those who undermine the foundations of the country do not deserve any concession. Why should those who caused damage to the identity of Pakistan at the international level be treated leniently?”

The IPP chief accused the former ruling PTI of playing with the country’s economy for three-and-a-half years.

Source: Express Tribune

Crippled party can’t be resurrected with ‘bat’ | The Express Tribune

Tareen terms PHC's decision contrary to public expectations

tribune.com.pk

The Nooras told us that JT was a cheeni chore and today they are all allies.

 

[FearlessRoar]

The Nooras told us that JT was a cheeni chore and today they are all allies.

Bro, these politicians are all actors. They act as one and stage dramas to win elections.

 

[Bewal Express]

Bro, these politicians are all actors. They act as one and stage dramas to win elections.

You win elections to show that you have the acceptance of the public. Many are politicians are in it for the money, but that doesnt mean we should stop having elections.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell you that these( Sharif ) are unleashing violence because they have no support. Would NS have kept IK in prison if he wasn't going to win with a landslide? Off course not. Would Maryam have insisted on Sanam Javed staying in prison for nearly 7 months, if she didn't fear for own career. I think you aren't prepared to face facts.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

ECP decides to take ‘bat’ back from PTI

Amid the echoes of Adiala Jail’s cold walls, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) founder chairman Imran Khan and the incumbent party chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, brought together by a court order, delve into the intricacies of candidate selection for the upcoming general elections, it emerged on Friday.

The recent court order has overturned the earlier restrictions and allowed the clinking of pens against paper, a newfound freedom shaping the discussions within the confines of the unexpected political arena, the party officials shared.

Jail has become a new place for political gathering for Imran, Gohar and others, they said, adding they were expected to finalise the party’s candidates for 2024 polls within a week or so.

Surprisingly, the PTI leadership is finalising poll candidates, initially, amid complaints of not being allowed to file nomination papers and now when the party candidates’ nomination papers are being rejected.

On Friday, even former premier Imran Khan’s nomination papers were rejected by National Assembly constituency from NA 122.

Apart from the cases of snatching and rejection of nomination papers, the party’s election symbol has also been hanging in the balance as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) recently stripped PTI of its ‘bat’ symbol ahead of polls and the legal battle between the poll body and PTI is going on over election symbol.

“Imran Khan and the incumbent chairmen have been sitting in jail to finalise candidates for the upcoming general elections on a regular basis,” a party insider shared, “they met on Friday and Saturday and are expected to finalise candidates in the next few days; maybe within a week or so.”

On Friday, Islamabad High Court’s Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb permitted PTI leaders and lawyers to hold election meetings with Imran at Adiala jail with the judge asking if the caretaker set-up wanted to “derail the polls” and observing that a “terrible system” was being run under the interim government.

The order was passed on a petition filed by Imran seeking permission for meetings with party leaders to formulate a strategy for the polls. The plea also requested IHC to instruct the jail superintendent to ensure privacy during his consultations with his legal team.

Earlier, Gohar was not allowed to take any papers and pen with him inside jail when he would go to meet Khan for finalising poll candidates. However, the party officials said, that after an order from IHC, Gohar has been granted permission to carry stationary items with him and take notes of the discussion that the two hold at jail.

Following IHC’s order, the party officials said that they have regularly been meeting at the jail and spending roughly two hours together to discuss political and election issues, including the names of the candidates for upcoming general elections slated to be held on February 8, 2024.

Party insiders shared that Gohar met on Friday and Saturday for a couple of hours, saying the meetings would continue and the party would hopefully finalise the candidates in the next few days. As before, the party officials emphasise that Imran has the final authority to choose poll candidates.

The officials refuted a list of candidates for 2024 polls circulating in WhatsApp groups and social media, saying it was not only a fake list but carries some factual mistakes like Imran contesting polls from Islamabad. “Imran hasn’t even submitted nomination papers from Islamabad,” he quipped.

Though PTI has been deprived of its election symbol, the party high-ups had recently vowed that the party would contest polls with or without 'bat' and wouldn’t give a walkover to its opponents in the polls. Amid complaints of political engineering and not being provided a level playing field, the party officials said, PTI is all set to distribute party tickets to suitable candidates.

They said that the party has decided that the majority of the tickets would be given to lawyers this time as they not only stood by it in testing times but could effectively deal with legal issues that might arise before or after the polls.

Source : The Express Tribune

 

[FearlessRoar]

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan on Monday stated that his party would still participate in the February 8 general elections even without getting the “bat” as electoral symbol.

He expressed these remarks during an interaction with journalists in Islamabad. During the discussion, he addressed the questions of the journalists and talked about the current political situation in the country. He brought attention to the prevailing challenges faced by PTI.

In December 22, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) invalidated PTI's internal elections, resulting in the withdrawal of the party's iconic "cricket bat" symbol.

However, on December 26, the Peshawar High Court (PHC), presided over by a single judge Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel, suspended the commission’s decision. The ECP, later, decided to challenge the verdict of the court.

The PTI chairman stated that his party had no dispute with anyone including the military establishment.

"PTI and Imran Khan have consistently said from the beginning that the military is ours, the country is ours, and there is no dispute with anyone, including the establishment,” Gohar said.

He emphasised that they have never used any word against any head of state or institution to provoke a conflict. Calling the treatment meted out to his party as “unprecedented”, the PTI chairman urged the Supreme Court to take suo moto notice to provide his party level playing field.

Furthermore, Barrister Gohar declared, "Even if we do not get the bat symbol, we will still participate in the elections. PTI will not boycott the elections under any circumstances."

Source: Express Tribune

PTI to participate in polls even without ‘bat’ symbol: Gohar | The Express Tribune

Says party has no dispute with anyone including establishment

tribune.com.pk

 

[FearlessRoar]

The right move, and he's also attempting to be somewhat diplomatic, which is beneficial for the party's future.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Peshawar High Court restored a decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan denying the use of the bat symbol to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

The Peshawar High Court and Lahore High Court separately heard on Wednesday petitions about the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decision to take away PTI’s electoral symbol of ‘bat’. The two high courts had reserved their judgments.

PTI wants the ECP to restore its electoral symbol, bat. It approached the Peshawar High Court (PHC) in the final week of December and a single member ruled in its favour.

However, the ECP had filed a review petition against the PHC’s single bench judgment.

On the other hand, PTI is seeking a court order against ECP’s refusal to implement the PHC single bench judgment and grant it the bat symbol.

Pehsawar High Court

Justice Ejaz Khan at Peshawar High Court heard the review petition filed by the ECP against the single bench order on Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Wednesday, PTI’s counsel Qazi Anwar argued before the court that ECP’s review petition against PHC’s earlier decision was against the law. He also said that ECP was not implementing the PHC order restoring the PTI instra-party election and bat symbol.

Since the ECP lawyer had already completed his arguments on Tuesday, the court reserved its judgment after hearing Qazi Anwar.

The ECP maintained before the PHC that PTI had filed a similar petition before the Lahore High Court and then approached the PHC without waiting for a decision.

Lahore High Court

Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court heard a PTI petition against the ECP decision.

The PTI counsel told the court that the Punjab Election Commission was not implementing the PHC judgement restoring its intra-party election.

Justice Jawad Hasan raised questions on the PTI petition and asked if the Punjab Election Commission was bound to implement PHC judgment or whether a provincial election commission could go against the Chief Election Commission of Pakistan.

Justice Hasan later reserved the judgement, which is yet to be announced.

Source: AAJ News

Peshawar High Court takes away PTI’s bat symbol again

ECP's decision has now been restored

www.aajenglish.tv

 

[BouncerGuy]

PTI to knock at SC doors to reclaim ‘Bat’

LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced to challenge the recent ruling of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), which reinstated the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) directive, leading to the revocation of the party’s electoral symbol, 'bat.'

Addressing the media on Wednesday, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan strongly criticised the PHC's decision, terming it the "most brazen reflection of the ECP’s partiality."

He asserted that the party would escalate the matter to the Supreme Court to contest the decision.

Expressing reservations about the "legitimacy of the election," the PTI chief questioned the ECP's proclamation that the PTI’s intra-party polls were "unconstitutional," resulting in the withdrawal of the iconic 'bat' electoral symbol.

He underscored the symbolic significance of the 'bat,' contending that its absence would cast doubt on the election's international recognition. “I think that taking away the ‘bat’ from PTI raises a question of legitimacy with regard to the election. If you take away the ‘bat’, the world will not recognise your election,” he added.

Gohar Khan implored the apex court to "kindly listen to us." “I think this decision was given in haste […] we will approach the Supreme Court against it,” he said. “So we urge the SC, that we will come to you tomorrow. Do us this kindness and listen to us,” he said.

While the PTI does not plan to boycott the election, he clarified that if the SCP does not reinstate the 'bat' symbol, PTI candidates would participate independently, urging the court to designate an alternative symbol.

However, the PTI chief said the party would not boycott the election.

‘Injustice to voters’

Reacting to the PHC’s decision, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leader and senior lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan underscored the great injustice inflicted upon millions of loyal voters, their rights seemingly snatched away with a single, bureaucratic flourish.

He said that the party had been virtually crushed with this decision.

However, the power to render a political entity politically impotent, to strip it of its very identity, resided solely with the top court, he asserted.

Earlier in the day, the PHC lifted the stay order and reaffirmed the ECP’s decision to nullify the PTI’s intra-party polls and strip the party of its election symbol, the 'bat.'

The PHC’s pronouncement followed its verdict on December 26, in response to the PTI’s petition challenging the ECP’s decision.

The ECP had invalidated PTI’s intra-party elections on December 2, citing non-compliance with electoral regulations. Subsequently, the PTI contested this decision in the Peshawar High Court.

On December 22, the electoral watchdog invalidated PTI's internal elections, resulting in the withdrawal of the party's iconic ‘cricket bat’ symbol.

In the intra-party elections held earlier in December 2023, on the electoral body’s order, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was elected as the PTI’s new chairman. Gohar was nominated by Imran Khan -- the PTI’s founder, who is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi's Adiala jail.

However, on December 26, the PHC, presided over by a single judge Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel, suspended the commission’s decision to nullify the PTI's intra-party polls and revoke its 'cricket bat' symbol.

The court in its order had directed the commission to publish the PTI’s certificate on its website and restore the electoral symbol of the party.

The ECP held a meeting following the PHC’s decision. The commission then decided to challenge the PHC decision through an intra-court appeal filed on December 30, 2023.

According to the ECP’s legal experts, the decision of a sole judge of the PHC without hearing the commission was against the principles of justice.
​

PTI to knock at SC doors to reclaim ‘Bat’ | The Express Tribune

Party chairman condemns PHC verdict as ECP's 'biggest reflection of bias'

tribune.com.pk

 

[FearlessRoar]

The Lahore High Court (LHC) dismissed on Thursday the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) plea challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to revoke the party’s popular electoral symbol, the ‘cricket bat’

Announcing the decision reserved a day earlier, Justice Jawad Hasan declared the petition non-maintainable.

Justice Jawad observed that the Peshawar High Court (PHC), through its order, passed in a writ petition, dated December 26, 2023, has already taken up the same matter and suspended the ECP’s decision. The order maintained that the matter was still pending adjudication there.

“In these circumstances, agitating the same matter before two parallel forums may result in conflicting opinions thereby undermining the judicial process, besides resulting in multiplicity of litigation that may result in delaying the elections,” the LHC’s order stated.

The high court further added that, “Such an endeavour indicates an attempt to undermine the judicial process by sidestepping the express directions given by the Supreme Court in the Supreme Court Bar Association Case.”

“It has been learnt that when the learned counsel for the petitioners, when confronted with the question whether the petitioners have challenged vires of Section 215(5) of the Act read with Article 17 of the Constitution, he replied that the same has been challenged before the Peshawar High Court,” the order stated.

“It is well settled that the fundamental rights of freedom of association under Article 17 of the Constitution is subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law as held in Suo Motu Case No.7 of 2017 (PLD 2019 Supreme Court 318). Pertinently, the matter is pending before the Peshawar High Court, Peshawar which has already taken the cognizance of the matter under the provisions mentioned under Chapter XI and XII of the Act will be interpreted by the competent court,” it further adds.

Justice Jawad observed that “in view of the aforesaid, the relief claimed by the petitioners cannot be granted without declaring the said provisions of the Act ultra vires Article 17 of the Constitution. Even otherwise, it is a well settled principle of law that when vires of law is challenged, interim relief cannot be granted”.

PTI moves SC

Earlier today, the PTI approached the Supreme Court (SC) against the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) restoration of the electoral watchdog’s decision nullifying the party’s intra-party polls, and subsequently revoking the cricket bat as its electoral symbol.

Filed by party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, the plea seeks to have the PHC’s interim order annulled.

The appeal maintains that the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) application was not admissible in the case, adding that the electoral watchdog cannot be a party to the case. It argues that the ECP’s decision was not backed by evidence.

Source: Express Tribune

LHC dismisses PTI’s plea seeking restoration of election symbol | The Express Tribune

Court observes matter already pending with PHC, parallel forums hearing same plea can result in conflicting opinions

tribune.com.pk

 

[The Bald Eagle]

If PTI does not get the bat symbol again then it's going to be a farce not election.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

ECP just a ‘record keeper’, does not have power to revoke electoral symbol, PTI lawyer tells PHC
Abdul Hakeem

PTI’s Barrister Ali Zafar on Tuesday contended that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was just a “record keeper” and did not have the power to strip a political party of its electoral symbol as the Peshawar High Court (PHC) took up a petition challenging the watchdog’s decision to revoke the PTI’s ‘bat’ symbol and nullify its internal polls.

On December 22, the ECP had decided against letting PTI retain its electoral symbol for the February 8 election, saying that it had failed to hold intra-party polls — which saw Barrister Gohar Ali Khan becoming the PTI chairman — according to its prevailing constitution and election laws.

Subsequently, the PTI had approached the PHC. On Dec 26, the PHC had suspended till Jan 9 the ECP’s declaration of the PTI’s intra-party polls as unconstitutional as well as the subsequent revocation of the ‘bat’ symbol. It had also noted that general elections were scheduled for February 8 and the last date for allotment of election symbols was January 13.

On Dec 30, the electoral watchdog had filed a review petition in the PHC, arguing that the court had overstepped its jurisdiction. Days later, in a major blow for the PTI, the high court restored the ECP’s December 22 order that had stripped the party of its symbol.

Subsequently, the PTI moved the Supreme Court against the restoration of the ECP ruling, which has been fixed for hearing on January 11 (Thursday).

Today, Justice Ejaz Anwar and Justice Syed Arshad Ali took up the plea.

Prior to the hearing, the PTI Lawyers’ Forum informed the court that party counsels Gohar and Barrister Ali Zafar would arrive by 12:30pm, requesting it to wait till then to begin the hearing.

The hearing

When the hearing began after the requested time, Advocate Qazi Anwar informed the PHC that Gohar and Zafar would reach the court in “five to ten minutes”.

At this, Justice Anwar expressed displeasure, asking, “Are you not interested? We have been waiting since the morning for them.

“When our cases were fixed at the Supreme Court, we used to reach there early in the morning,” he added. Qazi again sought more time from the judges, assuring the court that the PTI leaders were to arrive soon.

“What manner is this that the [court] bench is being kept waiting?” Justice Anwar asked. The court noted that the ECP had submitted its response and that the hearing would begin once the PTI lawyers had arrived.

Here, Justice Anwar directed that the lawyers objecting to the PTI’s intra-party polls and electoral symbol should also be summoned. Noting that the objectors included Akbar S. Babar, the judge asked about his absence.

At one during the hearing, Jahangir Raza, also challenging the party’s intra-party polls, said his counsel was not coming to the court due to strike. To this, Justice Anwar remarked, “This is a court. We have nothing to do with a strike.”

Here, the ECP informed the court that it would the electoral symbols would be allotted to the candidates on January 13 (Saturday).

“If there is no symbol allotted to the PTI, their candidates would be considered independent,” ECP counsel Sikandar Shah Mohmand said.

He added that the interim relief of a stay order on the electoral watchdog’s December 22 ruling had ended today.

Here, Justice Ali asked, “Can this matter be solved if we make a decision today? A case in the Supreme Court would not be needed?” The ECP lawyer replied that the matter would not reach the apex court then.

When Qazi, the PTI lawyer, apologised to the PHC for the delay in Ali’s arrival, Justice Anwar directed him to tell the PTI leader that they would not wait further and gave a break in the hearing till 1:15pm.

Source : Dawn News

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Why Is Imran Khan's 'Bat' Symbol So Special?

On November 26th, the Peshawar high court returned the bat symbol to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) seized it. This act of the ECP was deemed 'unconstitutional' by the high court. The ECP had previously rejected the PTI to even be instrumental in the upcoming February elections. After both of its demands were highly criticised and rejected by the High Court, Imran Khan was potentially taking part in his bat-run elections.

However, surprisingly, on January 3rd, the same high court that had supported the PTI to contest elections for being able to use its 'bat', restores the December 22nd order of the ECP, revoking the bat symbol. There are a multitude of opinions about the righteousness of Imran or the truthfulness of the ECP and the high court; it is, however, worth knowing how this symbol of the bat encompasses the whole political movement of Imran Khan and the manifesto it fights for.

What does this bat really mean? And what may be the possible repercussions of either case: the bat given or not? Or why are the 'elite forces' behind this bat?

Imran came into politics soon after winning the ICC Championship in 1992. On April 25 1996, Imran formed the PTI. His winning of the cricket championship magnetised the youth to him, who had been deprived of a sense of acquiring that trophy since Pakistan's debut in the ICC in 1952. I remember my grandfather once met Imran. He describes that Imran showed excellent and well-constructed political opinions, criticising the political elite, the then-current dilemma of political parties, and a quest for revolutionary change. My grandfather, perturbed by his keen interest, asked,

"Are you going to start a political party?"

Imran replied:

"No, hahaha, not at all."

Contradicting his own statement, Imran initiated PTI, which may be a testament to the growing support of the youth that encouraged him to pragmatically lead a party. He rallied on the streets on a manifesto of change, of revolution to be more precise. The 'change' narratives, coupled with his charismatic personality, made him an astounding figure in politics. Additionally, his philanthropic image was quite praiseworthy for the people when Imran established a large-scale free government hospital named the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research that previous regimes could not do or at least could not highlight. Although elections in the following year after the formation of PTI did not give Imran a seat, his party was gradually, if not rapidly, taking steps forwards and upwards.

Slowly adjusting in the tightened room of exiting parties, PTI became a prominent figure in politics, winning the provincial government of 2013 of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. For the 2013 General Elections, Imran had drawn fans and spectators of all ages, races and traditions, save the fact that the majority of them were youth. Supporters of his 'tabdeli' (revolution) narrative gained momentum slowly and peacefully, the latter debatable though. The 2013 General Election polls suggested Imran would be the most popular leader in the country. However, he lost, blaming it on election rigging. His allegations were identified as true by the Supreme Court in 2018, eventually helping him win the elections.

What must be noted at this time is the fact that in 2010, according to the official national figures, the youth amounted to 62.19% of the population. And currently, it is 64%. Hence, Imran's popularity was directly proportional to an increase in the youth population in Pakistan. This dichotomy presented a mind-blowing situation for other parties whose 'aged-ness' and old narratives merely splintered in the psyche of the older population, and hence, those antiquated narratives did not do justice to the enthusiastic, emotionally-driven, sport-interested youth. Out of the clutches of several parties, PTI rose to remarkable heights. Reflected by the fact that Imran won the 2018 elections, to some extent thanks to the establishment as well, but his immeasurable politics of change, corrupt-free business in the country, and fighting the elite, all added to his fame, making him one of the most popular leaders. Although Nawaz Sharif's government has also taken certain steps to increase its youth support, such as formulating the Prime Minister Youth Program, it did not draw the mass political support as they expected.

But as I questioned previously, in the whole political movement of Imran Khan, all those long marches, all those cheers and bustling crowds that gathered around the name of the party, what was the role of the 'bat'?

Seemingly a political symbol, the bat constitutes a major part of Imran's politics. As I said, winning the World Cup was a revolution in itself. It was a revolution after 40 years of Pakistan playing International cricket. The Pakistani youth had been deprived of enjoying the bliss of seeing a Pakistani picking up the shimmering trophy. According to the Gilani Research Foundation, conducted by Gallup Pakistan, more than half of Pakistan's population is a cricket fan. Imran and his captaincy not only fulfilled the desires of a cricket-loving nation but also caused a 'cricket revolution' in Pakistan.

The bat symbol assures the Pakistani youth that just like they had been satisfied after a long tenure of losing the cricket game, in the future, once the Kaptaan comes up, the same revolution will occur, signalling a new dawn of the phase.

Another aspect is emotional linkage. Winning the World Cup against Australia in a moment of crisis, as Wasim Akram describes, "they were almost losing the game" when it seemed quite impossible, refers to the fact that no matter what, the youth's power (since Imran was a young person at the time himself) will totally shift the dynamics of the country.

Source: The Express Tribune

 

[FearlessRoar]

PHC nullifies ECP ruling, returns bat to PTI

In a significant victory for the embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) nullified the ruling by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and returned the electoral symbol of 'bat' to the party.

On December 22, the electoral watchdog invalidated PTI's internal elections, resulting in the withdrawal of the party's iconic ‘cricket bat’ symbol.

However, on December 26, the PHC, presided over by a single judge Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel, suspended the commission’s decision to nullify the PTI's intra-party polls and revoke its 'cricket bat' symbol.

The court in its order had directed the commission to publish the PTI’s certificate on its website and restore the electoral symbol of the party.

The ECP held a meeting following the PHC’s decision. The commission then decided to challenge the PHC decision through an intra-court appeal filed on December 30, 2023.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Ejaz Anwar and Justice Syed Arshad Ali, of the high court resumed the hearing on PTI's intra-party election and election symbol case today with counsels representing the party and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in attendance.

In its verdict today, the PHC today directed the ECP to upload PTI's certificate of intra-party polls on its website. "The PTI is entitled to the 'bat' symbol should be given the same as its electoral symbol," said the PHC ruling.

The verdict, which was reserved earlier in the day, was announced by a two-member bench of the high court comprising Justice Ejaz Anwar and Justice Syed Arshad Ali. The petition was filed by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali and other party leaders requesting the court to declare the ECP order illegal and sans jurisdiction.

As the hearing commenced, Justice Anwar remarked that the 'ladla' (blue-eyed boy) title keeps switching from person to person.

Advocate Qazi Javed stated that his client and PTI’s former district general secretary came to know about the intra-party polls from the media, mentioning that Javed wanted to participate in the party polls; but was not given the opportunity.

Advocate Javed stated that he also approached the ECP in this regard.

Upon Justice Anwar’s inquiry on whether all members or just provincial representatives were elected in the polls, Javed remarked that the representatives of the entire country were elected.

The counsel maintained that if PTI is demanding a level playing field, then it should provide the same to its party workers as well.

The lawyer for petitioner Jahangir from Charsadda, Naveed Akhtar, stated that his client was the PTI's district president and was dismissed from the party over a statement. Naveed claimed that PTI did not elect officials as per the constitution, maintaining that every party should abide by its constitution.

Justice Ali inquired whether there could be a penalty for intra-party elections or was any action taken by the electoral watchdog, to which the lawyer replied that no action was taken by the election commission.

The counsel for the complainant argued that the ECP should have ensured that the intra-party polls were held under Section 208.

PTI lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar, while presenting his arguments, said he wanted to clarify the principle of jurisdiction in the case. He said that under Article 199, the PHC is empowered to hear the party's plea as the intra-polls were held in Peshawar - which falls under the jurisdiction of the PHC.

He further said that the party's chairman also belongs to K-P and when asked about the general secretary, he replied it is Umar Ayub.

Justice Anwar remarked that if the intra-party election was against the constitution, ECP neither issued the party a show-cause notice nor any punishment and added that the election body only nullified PTI's intra-party polls.

A day earlier, the electoral watchdog sent details of election symbols of political parties to the returning officers (ROs), according to which, the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians has been allotted the ‘arrow’ symbol, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Nazaryati ‘ballay baz’ (batsman), and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz ‘tiger’.

The electoral body sent the election symbols of 145 political parties to the ROs, however, the PTI was missing from the list of election symbols.

The ROs were directed to allot the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party the election symbol of an ‘eagle’, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement ‘kite’, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam ‘book’ and the Jamaat-e-Islami ‘scale’. The names of various political parties, including the PTI, were not included in the list of electoral symbols.

Source: Express Tribune

‘3rd umpire’ returns bat to Kaptaan just before match | The Express Tribune

PHC orders ECP to reinstate party’s cherished symbol

tribune.com.pk

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Sometimes they allow the bat symbol to PTI, sometimes they don't

it seems like a musical chair program is going on in the country.

 

[Bewal Express]

Next step for corrupt Isa to find a reason to take the symbol off the PTI. Isa is a disgrace and part off the mafia but who doesnt know that.

 

[Bewal Express]

The PHC judges seem to be the only ones that have shown some courage against the mafia. The CJP of PHC showed in the Zartaj Gul case that an honest CJ can stop the move towards dictorship.

 

[moghul]

Another bad news for Patwaris .

 

[BouncerGuy]

This is a joke of a judicial system. Almost all of Pakistan's authorities are corrupt just like the ECP is. This a comedy of a case to take a symbol away from a Party that was in government till last year. Tried but failed. Sad for many.

 

[Waseem]

Imran Khan and his party have been completely dismantled in a matter of months.

Every effort has been made to dismantle it but PTI enjoys unprecedented public support right now and although a difficult task but still PTI could finally give huge challenge to military establishment. Whether PT is allowed to govern or not but establishment has never been exposed to this extent and unlikely they will get any respect at least for new few decades.

 

[BouncerGuy]

ECP to make its move today amid ‘bat-and-forth’

ISLAMABAD / PESHAWAR: After the Peshawar High Court (PHC) overruled a decision of the election watchdog which denied the PTI its electoral symbol of ‘bat’, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will hold another meeting today (Thursday) to decide whether or not to move the Supreme Court against the order of the high court, which came hardly a month before the general elections slated for Feb 8.

On Wednesday, after another round of ‘bat-and-forth’ in the PHC, the PTI was allowed by the two-member bench to retain its electoral symbol and the decision of the ECP announced on Dec 22 was set aside.

After the PHC ruling, ECP chief Sikandar Sultan Raja chaired a huddle in Islamabad to take stock of the situation in the aftermath of the court decision.

A source said the meeting mulled over its options, but could not reach a final decision about whether or not to approach the top court. Another meeting will be held today (Thursday), where the law wing of the ECP will brief the watchdog, after which a final decision about moving the SC will be made.

A source, however, agreed that time was quite short as returning officers are expected to allocate poll symbols to the contesting candidates on January 13.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan hailed the PHC verdict as “historic”. Speaking to the media in Rawalpindi, he said that the ‘bat’ was more than just an electoral symbol.

According to Mr Khan, the PHC’s verdict was a crucial step in ensuring free and fair polls. He criticised the ECP, claiming it attempted to thwart the PTI on all fronts, which had resulted in denying the party’s right to retain its symbol and potentially losing 227 reserved seats, reported Dawn.com.

He highlighted the potential consequences, saying that 807 PTI candidates for general seats would have been forced to contest polls as independents, which would have led to corruption. He argued that no constitution permitted the withdrawal of an electoral symbol from any political party and insisted that only the PTI was being targeted.

PTI lead counsel Barrister Syed Ali Zafar told media persons that it would be contempt of the high court if the ECP did not forthwith publish on its website the certificate of PTI’s intra-party polls and allot the party its election symbol.

PHC proceedings

“The ECP is directed to forthwith publish the certificate [of intra-party polls] filed by the petitioner on its website in terms of section 209 of the Elections Act, 2017,” the bench consisting of Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Syed Arshad Ali said in a brief order.

According to the court, the PTI was entitled to the election symbol “strictly in terms of sections 215 and 217, read with any other enabling provision of the Elections Act 2017 and Election Rules 2017”.

Following the PHC order, PTI workers were elated, several of whom were wielding cricket bats and raising party slogans on the premises of the high court.

The bench on Wednesday mostly heard arguments advanced by lawyers representing six of the respondents, who had challenged the PTI intra-party polls before the ECP.

Advocate Qazi Jawad Ahsanullah appeared for Yousaf Ali and stated that his client was a former general secretary of the PTI in Swabi who wanted to participate in the polls, but was not provided the opportunity by the party. Qazi Jawad contended that the intra-party polls were for the entire country, whereas the high court’s territorial jurisdiction was limited to this province.

The bench inquired why the matter could not be agitated before this high court when the polls were held in Peshawar and were declared void by the ECP. The counsel put forward different orders of the superior courts about the jurisdiction of a high court, arguing that the high court could only review provincial matters whereas the intra-party polls were held for the entire country.

Justice Ijaz Anwar asked whether the party should have moved all four high courts.

The bench inquired whether the ECP could take action of not allotting a symbol under Section 215 of the Elections Act if the intra-party polls were not held in accordance with Section 208 of the law, as the said action could only be taken due to the violation of Section 209, dealing with the submission of the polls certificate by the political party.

Advocate Mian Azizuddin Kakakhel appeared for Raja Tahir Nawaz and Raja Hamid Zaman, both belonging to Islamabad, whereas advocate Fida Bahadur represented Sardar Niaz Ahmad from Abbottabad. They also supported the ECP’s order stating that the polls were not held in accordance with the law and constitution of the party.

Rebutting their arguments, Barrister Ali Zafar stated: “Neither the Elections Act 2017 nor the Constitution or any other law in the field allows the ECP to nullify the intra-party elections of a political party.”

He argued that the court had the jurisdiction to adjudicate on this issue since the polls were held in Peshawar.

ECP counsel Sikander Bashir Mohmand argued that being a regulator it was the responsibility of the commission to look into the intra-party polls of a party when it submits a certificate under Section 209 of the Elections Act.

He added that if the polls were not held in accordance with the party constitution the ECP could take action under Section 215. He was of the opinion that for every general election, symbols were allotted to a political party and after completion of polls, the symbols do not belong to any particular party.
​

ECP to make its move today amid ‘bat-and-forth’

PHC overrules watchdog's order on PTI’s intra-party polls, says party entitled to its symbol; CEC chairs post-decision huddle.

www.dawn.com

 

[FearlessRoar]

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday moved the Supreme Court (SC) against the Peshawar High Court’s decision allowing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to retain its electoral symbol, ARY News reported.

The ECP, in a plea, has pleaded with the apex court to overturn the PHC verdict which is against the ‘constitution’.

The moves comes after a consultative meeting was held on Thursday with Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja in the chair.

Following the meeting, the election commission’s legal team started preparing the petition for moving the apex court on the order of the ECP officials.

Meanwhile, the caretaker information minister also held a meeting with officials of the election commission. The meeting was also attended by the four members of the commission and the ECP legal team.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Wednesday got back ‘bat’ as its election symbol after the Peshawar High Court (PHC) nullified the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) order of stripping the party of using the ‘bat’ symbol.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf moved Peshawar High Court to challenge the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision declaring the intra-party election as null and void and revoking their electoral symbol “bat”.

A two-member Peshawar High Court (PHC) bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Arshad Ali announced the verdict.

The PHC while nullifying the order of the ECP, allowed the PTI to contest elections on ‘bat’ symbol. The verdict further directed the electoral body to upload the PTI’s certificate on its website.

On January 3, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) revoked the stay order and restored the ECP decision to declare PTI intra-party polls null and void and strip it of its election symbol — bat.

A single-member bench comprising Justice Ejaz Khan announced the reserved verdict on a review plea filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against the December 26 single-member bench order.

Source: ARY

'PTI bat symbol': ECP challenges PHC decision in Supreme Court

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday moved the Supreme Court (SC) against the Peshawar High Court's decision allowing Pakistan

arynews.tv

 

[BouncerGuy]

PTI moves PHC seeking contempt proceedings against ECP over failure to implement order in ‘bat’ case

The PTI on Thursday moved the Peshawar High Court (PHC) seeking contempt proceedings against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) over the electoral watchdog’s failure to implement the court’s directives in the ‘bat’ symbol case.

A day earlier, in a major relief ahead of the February 8 general elections, the PHC had declared “illegal” the ECP’s decision to revoke PTI’s iconic ‘bat’ electoral symbol and reject its intra-party polls.

In the short order, the PHC had termed the ECP order as “illegal, without any lawful authority and of no legal effect”.

“The ECP is directed to forthwith publish the certificate [of intra-party polls] filed by the petitioner on its website in terms of section 209 of the Elections Act, 2017,” the bench consisting of Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Syed Arshad Ali said in a brief order.

According to the court, the PTI was entitled to the election symbol “strictly in terms of sections 215 and 217, read with any other enabling provision of the Elections Act 2017 and Election Rules 2017”.

On December 22, the election commission had decided against letting PTI retain its electoral symbol for the general election, saying that it had failed to hold intra-party polls as per its prevailing constitution and election laws.

Subsequently, the PTI had approached the PHC against the ECP order on Dec 26 and a single-member bench restored the electoral symbol of the party till January 9 and directed that the case be fixed before a divisional bench.

On Dec 30, the electoral watchdog had filed a review application in the PHC, arguing that the court had overstepped its jurisdiction. Days later, in a major blow for the PTI, the high court had withdrawn the stay on the ECP order, stripping the party of its symbol again.

Consequently, the PTI moved the Supreme Court against the restoration of the ECP ruling. However, the party had withdrawn the appeal yesterday as the matter was already being heard by the PHC, which subsequently handed the ‘bat’ back to the party.

The petition submitted by the PTI today, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, named Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, the ECp secretary, and the commission’s members Justice (retd) Ikram Ullah Khan, Nisar Ahmad Durrani, Babar Hassan Bharwana, and Shah Muhammad Jatoi as respondents in the case.

The plea urged the court to punish the respondents as per the law for not complying with the yesterday’s orders.

The petition stated that the election commission had not “issued the certificate to PTI on its website” despite yesterday’s directives, which amounted to contempt of court.

“[…] respondents disregarded the order of this honourable court and downgraded the authority of this honourable court,” the petition read. “That omission of respondents to act upon the order of this honourable court speaks of the fact that respondents undermined the authority of this honourable court,” it said.

The plea accused the respondents of not “moving an inch” for the implementation of the PHC order and for “willfully disobeyed the same”.

It added that the action of respondents fell within the ambit of contempt as respondents ignored the court’s directions. The plea was filed by Advocates Qazi Muhammad Anwar and Shah Faisal Ilyas.

Speaking to Dawn.com, Advocate Ilyas confirmed that the PHC had accepted and listed the petition for hearing tomorrow before a two-judge bench.

“Yesterday the PHC restored the ‘bat’ symbol,” he said. “The court in its order directed the ECP to publish the PTI’s certificate on their website,” he said.

Advocate Ilyas concluded that the election commission had failed to carry out the orders of the PHC despite the passage of 24 hours.

‘It’s been too long’

Speaking to the media in Rawalpindi, PTI’s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that party tickets would be announced tonight. He further said that the party would also begin issuing tickets soon.

“We request the ECP to publish our certificate on its website today, it has already been too long,” Gohar said, adding that he did not want ticketholders to face any issues in the coming days.

He noted that the ECP should heed the order of the court and fulfil their responsibility of keeping elections free, fair and transparent.

Responding to a question, Gohar said that if the ECP wanted to approach the Supreme Court against yesterday’s verdict, it had the right to do so.

“But until the SC sets aside this order, the implementation of this order is very important. The ECP is a legal institution, it is mandatory that whatever order has been given be implemented immediately,” Gohar said.
​

DAWN

 

[Hassan A]

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa on Friday said that the Supreme Court would not “take over” the job of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), noting that it was a constitutional body.

His remarks came as a three-member bench — comprising CJP Isa, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali — took up the ECP’s petition challenging the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) decision to restore the PTI’s iconic ‘bat’ election symbol.

Responding to PTI counsel Hamid Khan’s arguments, Justice Isa noted that there was a “very clear line of demarcation” between the functions of a constitutional and a statutory body.

He remarked, “If they’re (ECP) doing their job, we won’t take over their job [or] how to do it [or] how better to do it.”

On December 22, the ECP had decided against letting PTI retain its electoral symbol for the general elections, saying that it had failed to hold intra-party polls as per its prevailing constitution and election laws.

Subsequently, the PTI had approached the PHC against the ECP order on Dec 26 and a single-member bench restored the electoral symbol of the party till January 9 and directed that the case be fixed before a divisional bench.

On Dec 30, the electoral watchdog had filed a review application in the PHC, arguing that the court had overstepped its jurisdiction. Days later, in a major blow for the PTI, the high court had withdrawn the stay on the ECP order, stripping the party of its symbol again.

Consequently, the PTI moved the Supreme Court against the restoration of the ECP ruling. On Wednesday, the party had withdrawn the appeal as the matter was already being heard by the PHC.

The same day, the PHC had declared “illegal” the ECP’s decision to revoke PTI’s iconic ‘bat’ electoral symbol and reject its intra-party polls. In the short order, the PHC had termed the ECP order as “illegal, without any lawful authority and of no legal effect”.

According to the court, the PTI was entitled to the election symbol “strictly in terms of sections 215 and 217, read with any other enabling provision of the Elections Act 2017 and Election Rules 2017”.

A day earlier, the ECP had challenged the PHC’s decision to restore the PTI’s election symbol. Simultaneously, the PTI initiated legal action in the PHC, filing a contempt petition against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and other ECP members for not implementing the high court’s order in the case.

During today’s hearing, Hamid Khan appeared as the PTI counsel while Makhdoom Ali Khan was present as the ECP lawyer.

Akbar S. Babar, an estranged party member, also appeared before the court whereas PTI lawyer Ali Zafar attended the hearing via video link from the SC’s Lahore registry.

Gohar Ali, who was elected as the PTI chairman in the recent intra-party polls, reached the SC as well as the party’s chief election commissioner (CEC) Niazullah Niazi and lawyer Shoaib Shaheen.

The hearing has been adjourned till 1:30pm.

The hearing

At the outset of the hearing, the ECP counsel came to the rostrum. When CJP Isa asked Makhdoom whether the PHC’s written order had been issued or not, the latter replied that it had not been.

The lawyer then read out the PHC order that restored the PTI’s ‘bat’ symbol. He said that the ECP had not yet received “any notice” of the PHC order, to which the chief justice said, “I have not read the case file either.”

The top judge asked Makhdoom when he would be ready to present the case, at which the counsel urged the SC to adjourn the hearing till Monday. Makhdoom further said that the political parties would be allotted electoral symbols tomorrow.

Here, the CJP observed that to adjourn the hearing till Monday, the PHC’s recent verdict would have to be suspended, adding that the apex court was ready to hear the case on Saturday and Sunday as well. The ECP lawyer then sought time till tomorrow to prepare for the case.

Makhdoom recalled that the PTI was supposed to hold its intra-party polls in 2022 and that the electoral watchdog issued a notice to the PTI for not holding the intra-party polls according to its party constitution.

Here, Justice Mazhar asked about the process for appointing the party’s CEC mentioned in the PTI’s constitution, to which the ECP lawyer said that Jamal Ansari was the previous party CEC, after which Niazi took the role.

At one point during the hearing, CJP Isa observed, “The election commission is not just a quasi-judicial body. It is a constitutional body.”

“It has two functions; one [is] regulating the affairs of political parties, which is an ongoing exercise, and the other is free and fair elections,” he added.

Upon the chief justice asking who were the other members of the PTI’s election commission, Makhdoom said “no member other than the CEC was appointed”.

However, when the CJP asked Hamid if the same was true, the PTI counsel answered it was not. The top judge then inquired about the documents pertaining to the appointment of members of the PTI’s electoral body.

Here, the PTI lawyer said he had sought time to prepare for the case, adding that he would present arguments on the ECP’s appeal not being maintainable and not having the right to claim.

Makhdoom argued that the constitution of the PTI’s election commission for the intra-party polls was “not legally correct”. When CJP Isa asked Hamid if the ECP counsel’s claim was true, he replied in the negative.

Here, the PTI lawyer reiterated that the ECP’s appeal was not maintainable, at which the chief justice directed him to present his arguments first.

Hamid contended that the electoral watchdog could not file an appeal in the apex court as a “respondent has to file an appeal, not the election commission”.

Justice Isa asked whether the ECP could not “defend its orders”, to which the PTI counsel then raised the question: “Can a judge file an appeal against its own verdict?”

ECP petition

The ECP’s petition, submitted by former attorney general Makhdoom Ali Khan, argued that the PHC should not have proceeded with the case without first issuing a notice to the attorney general for Pakistan (AGP).

This procedural step was necessary because the legal question at hand pertained to the federal government, involving the interpretation of Article 17 of the Constitution and its relationship with the provisions of the Elections Act of 2017, it said.

The petition also highlighted that the PHC’s order conflicted with previous Supreme Court rulings, which have consistently discouraged high courts from intervening in the electoral process, which, as per the Constitution, was exclusively within the ECP’s jurisdiction.

The petition emphasised that the high court’s judgement effectively nullified key sections of the Elections Act and Election Rules by restricting the ECP’s constitutional and statutory roles in regulating and supervising intra-party elections of political parties. This interpretation contradicted the principles established in previous superior court rulings, it said.

Furthermore, it undermined the fundamental purpose of Section 215(5) of the Act, in conjunction with Rules 157 and 158, which aim to foster democracy, pluralism, and transparency within political parties by ensuring timely intra-party elections, it added.

Additionally, the PHC ruling disregarded the essence of Section 208(2) of the Elections Act, which is intended to guarantee equal opportunities for all party members to contest elections for any political party office.

It said the high court order not only rendered relevant provisions practically redundant but also enabled a political party to undertake “sham” intra-party elections without any checks and balances. This, the ECP’s petition said, was not only contrary to Article 17 of the Constitution but was also in conflict with the principles of democracy.

The petition also pointed out that the PHC’s order overlooked the fact that the Elections Act was enacted under a democratic government and led to the repeal of various election laws, some of which were established during times of extra-constitutional rule.

Source: Dawn

 

[BouncerGuy]

SC resumes hearing ECP’s plea against high court verdict restoring PTI’s ‘bat’ symbol

The Supreme Court has resumed hearing today (Saturday) the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) petition challenging the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) decision to restore the PTI’s ‘bat’ election symbol.

The ECP will allot election symbols to political parties today.

A three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and Justices Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Musarrat Hilali, will hear the case. The proceedings will be broadcast live on the SC’s website and YouTube.

On December 22, the ECP had decided against letting PTI retain its electoral symbol for the general elections, saying that it had failed to hold intra-party polls as per its prevailing constitution and election laws.

Subsequently, the PTI approached the PHC against the ECP order on Dec 26 and a single-member bench restored the party’s electoral symbol until Jan 9, directing that the case be fixed before a divisional bench.

On Dec 30, the electoral watchdog filed a review application in the PHC, arguing that the court had overstepped its jurisdiction. Days later, in a major blow for the PTI, the high court withdrew the stay on the ECP order, stripping the party of its symbol again.

Consequently, the PTI moved the Supreme Court against the restoration of the ECP ruling. On Wednesday, the party had withdrawn the appeal as the matter was already being heard by the PHC.

The same day, the PHC had declared “illegal” the ECP’s decision to revoke PTI’s iconic ‘bat’ symbol and reject its intra-party polls. In the short order, the PHC had termed the ECP order as “illegal, without any lawful authority and of no legal effect”.

According to the court, the PTI was entitled to the election symbol “strictly in terms of sections 215 and 217, read with any other enabling provision of the Elections Act 2017 and Election Rules 2017”.

On Thursday, the ECP had challenged the PHC’s decision to restore the PTI’s election symbol. Simultaneously, the PTI initiated legal action in the PHC, filing a contempt petition against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and other ECP members for not implementing the high court’s order in the case.

During the previous hearing yesterday, CJP Isa had observed that democracy was a fundamental right, which should be present in both a country and a political party.

Justice Isa had also highlighted that the case was “time sensitive” with the Feb 8 general elections approaching, adding that the matter required “immediate attention”.

ECP counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan had contended that the PTI had held its intra-party polls “secretly” and the elections were not in accordance with the party’s documents. Upon being repeatedly questioned, he also assured the bench that no discriminatory behaviour had been adopted with the party.

The apex court is expected to reserve its verdict on the ECP’s appeal today as returning officers (ROs) are set to allocate poll symbols to electoral candidates today.

Hamid Khan has appeared as the PTI counsel while Makhdoom Ali Khan is present as the ECP lawyer. PTI lawyer Ali Zafar also reached the court.

ECP petition

The ECP’s petition, submitted by former attorney general Makhdoom Ali Khan, argued that the PHC should not have proceeded with the case without first issuing a notice to the attorney general for Pakistan (AGP).

This procedural step was necessary because the legal question at hand pertained to the federal government, involving the interpretation of Article 17 of the Constitution and its relationship with the provisions of the Elections Act of 2017, it said.

The petition also highlighted that the PHC’s order conflicted with previous Supreme Court rulings, which have consistently discouraged high courts from intervening in the electoral process, which, as per the Constitution, was exclusively within the ECP’s jurisdiction.

The petition emphasised that the high court’s judgement effectively nullified key sections of the Elections Act and Election Rules by restricting the ECP’s constitutional and statutory roles in regulating and supervising intra-party elections of political parties. This interpretation contradicted the principles established in previous superior court rulings, it said.

Furthermore, it undermined the fundamental purpose of Section 215(5) of the Act, in conjunction with Rules 157 and 158, which aim to foster democracy, pluralism, and transparency within political parties by ensuring timely intra-party elections, it added.

Additionally, the PHC ruling disregarded the essence of Section 208(2) of the Elections Act, which is intended to guarantee equal opportunities for all party members to contest elections for any political party office.

It said the high court order not only rendered relevant provisions practically redundant but also enabled a political party to undertake “sham” intra-party elections without any checks and balances. This, the ECP’s petition said, was not only contrary to Article 17 of the Constitution but was also in conflict with the principles of democracy.

The petition also pointed out that the PHC’s order overlooked the fact that the Elections Act was enacted under a democratic government and led to the repeal of various election laws, some of which were established during times of extra-constitutional rule.

Source: Dawn

 

[FearlessRoar]

Bat’s fate hangs in balance as SC reserves verdict on plea against restoration of PTI’s electoral symbol

The Supreme Court on Saturday reserved its verdict on a petition filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) challenging the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) order, which reinstated the “bat” electoral symbol for the PTI.

The verdict is set to be announced at 9:30pm.

After hearing arguments from the counsels of both the PTI and the ECP, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa remarked that he will consult his co-judges before coming up with observations.

“Both sides argued the case well. We will have a discussion. Let’s see what we come up with; can’t say anythign yet,” the CJP added before the bench took a break.

A three-member bench — comprising the CJP, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali — heard the ECP’s petition challenging the PHC decision to restore the PTI’s election symbol.

On December 22, the ECP had decided against letting PTI retain its electoral symbol for the general elections, saying that it had failed to hold intra-party polls as per its prevailing constitution and election laws.

Subsequently, the PTI approached the PHC against the ECP order on Dec 26 and a single-member bench restored the party’s electoral symbol until Jan 9, directing that the case be fixed before a divisional bench.

On Dec 30, the electoral watchdog filed a review application in the PHC, arguing that the court had overstepped its jurisdiction. Days later, in a major blow for the PTI, the high court withdrew the stay on the ECP order, stripping the party of its symbol again.

Consequently, the PTI moved the Supreme Court against the restoration of the ECP ruling. On Wednesday, the party had withdrawn the appeal as the matter was already being heard by the PHC.

The same day, the PHC had declared “illegal” the ECP’s decision to revoke PTI’s iconic ‘bat’ symbol and reject its intra-party polls. In the short order, the PHC had termed the ECP order as “illegal, without any lawful authority and of no legal effect”.

According to the court, the PTI was entitled to the election symbol “strictly in terms of sections 215 and 217, read with any other enabling provision of the Elections Act 2017 and Election Rules 2017”.

On Thursday, the ECP had challenged the PHC’s decision to restore the PTI’s election symbol. Simultaneously, the PTI initiated legal action in the PHC, filing a contempt petition against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and other ECP members for not implementing the high court’s order in the case.

During the previous hearing yesterday, CJP Isa had observed that democracy was a fundamental right, which should be present in both a country and a political party.

Justice Isa had also highlighted that the case was “time sensitive” with the Feb 8 general elections approaching, adding that the matter required “immediate attention”.

ECP counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan had contended that the PTI had held its intra-party polls “secretly” and the elections were not in accordance with the party’s documents. Upon being repeatedly questioned, he also assured the bench that no discriminatory behaviour had been adopted with the party.

The apex court is expected to announce its verdict on the ECP’s appeal today as returning officers (ROs) are also set to allocate poll symbols to electoral candidates.

During today’s hearing, Hamid Khan has appeared as the PTI counsel while Makhdoom Ali Khan is present as the ECP lawyer. PTI lawyer Ali Zafar and the party’s chief election commissioner (CEC) Niazullah Niazi are also present in the courtroom.

At the outset of the hearing, CJP Isa said that the detailed order of the PHC restoring the PTI’s symbol has been issued, at which the party counsel termed it an “excellent decision”.

Hamid then came to the rostrum, noting that today was the last day to submit the party tickets to the ECP so he would try to wrap up his arguments soon. “We also have less time as we also have to write the order,” the chief justice said indicating that the court would announce its verdict today.

Here, Justice Mazhar noted that there were two questions: whether the court had jurisdiction or not and whether the ECP has the authority to investigate intra-party polls.

Zafar then argued that neither the Constitution nor the Elections Act 2017 granted the electoral watchdog the right to review a party’s intra-party elections.

Citing Article 17 of the Constitution, he asserted that contesting the elections with an electoral symbol was among a political party’s rights and that depriving a party of the same would be in violation of the Constitution.

“The election commission has discriminated against the PTI. The ECP has apparently been mala fide by taking away the ‘bat’ symbol,” he alleged, contending that the watchdog was “not a court that could grant the right to a fair trial”.

Zafar claimed that none of the PTI members had challenged the intra-party polls, asserting that they were held according to the PTI’s constitution.

He highlighted that the ECP had given 20 days to hold the intra-party elections, which the PTI complied with due to the fear of the party being “excluded from the elections”.

The PTI lawyer said his basic argument was that those challenging the intra-party polls were not party members. He added that the PTI had responded in writing to the ECP’s 32 questions, following which it set aside the intra-party elections.

Zafar contended that the election commission had not mentioned “any irregularity” in its Dec 22 order but said that the “reasons given were strange”.

He said that the ECP had said it would not accept the intra-party polls as the appointment of the party CEC was not done correctly. However, he added, that a day ago the ECP counsel had raised technical objections and talked about “democracy within the party”.

Here, CJP Isa, reiterating his remarks from yesterday, noted, “There should be democracy within political parties as well as within the country. The basic question is of democracy, not of complete implementation of the party constitution.”

“It should at least be seen that [intra-party] elections were conducted,” he said, adding that Akbar S. Babar was also a party member “even if disliked” by the party.

At one point during the hearing, Justice Isa told the PTI counsel to either “give the whole context” for its allegations of mala fide against the ECP or “keep it (the arguments) legal”.

“Did we appoint them? You all appoint these people. We don’t appoint them,” he remarked, adding that the apex court could “force” the commission to perform its duties but “not take on their responsibilities”.

The CJP told the PTI counsel: “Substantiate if you are taking the angle of mala fide.”

“If they’re mala fide then we look at them with very suspect eyes or you take away this allegation. I am not saying ‘take it away’. It’s your call,” he added.

At this, Hamid said he would keep his arguments non-political. When asked if he was withdrawing his allegation of “mala fide in fact”, the lawyer replied he would not “go into that arena”.

The CJP recalled that the ECP had issued notice to the PTI when the party was in the government.

Justice Mazhar asked whether the PTI had followed the election schedule it had issued. “Were the [intra-party] elections transparent? Was it clear that who could contest the elections and who could not?” he asked.

“You ask for a level playing field [but] would also have to give your party members the same,” he remarked, noting that the ECP had not taken action on its own but upon receiving complaints. Zafar assured the court that he would respond to all questions.

“Nowadays everyone uses the word establishment, the real term is army. We should talk openly and fully,” Justice Isa said, adding that he respects constitutional institutions.

The top judge said: “If we talk about [General] Ayub’s rule, political parties in Pakistan have a history.”

“The PPP’s sword symbol was taken from them, after which PPP-Parliamentarian was created. PML-N has seen a similar time,” he remarked, adding that it must be seen who was in the government at the time.

“There is a big difference between the situation of today and then, when SC judges took oath under the PCO. Today, the PTI’s opponents are not in government,” the CJP said.

Justice Mazhar noted that any irregularities identified by the ECP are from the PTI constitution itself, to which Zafar replied that the ECP has not identified any irregularities in the election schedule and venue.

Here, Justice Isa remarked that the main matter is whether intra-party elections have been conducted or not. He further remarked that if PTI had let Akbar Babar contest the intra-party elections, and he lacked support, he would have lost anyway.

“The PTI founder is facing a trial in jail; if he comes out of jail tomorrow and wonders who these officials are, then what will happen?” the CJP wondered.

Justice Isa also asked the PTI counsel why he does not have faith in the party’s “850,000 members”, to which Zafar replied that he was pointing out the laws which the ECP used to withdraw the party’s election symbol.

“The basic point is the authority of the ECP. If that is not present, the rest of the matter will end by itself,” Justice Mazhar said.

“If the elections were conducted in a regular manner, then the election symbol should be given in any case,” Justice Isa remarked, cautioning not to get involved in the complications of the elections.

“Just tell me whether all party members got an equal opportunity in PTI’s intra-party elections or not,” the CJP stated. “The ECP cannot be shown a piece of paper and be told that elections were held.”

He added that it has to be seen whether the intra-party elections were conducted according to the prevailing procedure or not.

Zafar said that according to the Elections Act, each party has to issue a certificate within seven days of holding the intra-party polls, at which Justice Hilali observed that the certificate was subject to the election process according to the party constitution.

The PTI lawyer reiterated that the ECP did not have the authority to scrutinise the intra-party polls, to which Justice Mazhar said that the “real issue is of the jurisdiction”.

Here, CJP Isa remarked, “Or you can accept whether you want democracy or not. You cannot say that democracy remains in the house but not outside it.

“You want politics, not democracy. Politics is democracy,” he noted, asking why the PTI did not allow the 14 people challenging the party polls to contest them.

The top judge pointed out that the PTI lawyer said the ECP could impose a fine for not holding intra-party polls properly but at the same time argued that it did not have authority for other matters.

Here, Justice Hilali wondered if the ECP “could do nothing” if a political party issued a certificate for holding intra-party elections without actually conducting them. Meanwhile, Justice Mazhar observed that the party had “gone beyond the stage of fine” by holding the intra-party polls.

The CJP then inquired Zafar who the PTI chairman was, to which he replied that it was Barrister Gohar Ali Khan. “Barrister Gohar’s own election has become questionable. If the PTI founder had given a certificate, then it would have been another situation,” the chief justice remarked.

To this, the PTI counsel responded that the certificate needed to be issued by the incumbent party chairman, not the previous one. When Justice Hilali asked who the PTI chairman was at the time of the intra-party polls, the lawyer answered that the position was held by former premier Imran Khan.

Zafar maintained that Babar had been expelled from the PTI. The CJP asked the counsel to show on record that he was not a member, to which Zafar said he would produce the document proving that.

“A certificate can only be issued once a party has held elections in accordance with its constitution,” Justice Hilali noted.

Here, the CJP observed, “The PTI’s constitution says that the chairman shall be elected every two years while others every three years. Violation of the party constitution is proved to this extent.”

Zafar then said he had been “given directives” that Babar was not a PTI member, at which CJP Isa asked who was giving him directives. “I am being given directives by the party leadership,” he answered.

“Those who joined the party two years ago are giving that instruction?” Justice Isa questioned.

Justice Hilali asked Zafar whether PTI had published the nomination papers for its intra-party elections on its website. She wondered how people were supposed to know that these were the nomination papers, as well as when to submit them.

Here, the CJP directed that the PTI’s website be checked for the nomination papers but Zafar informed the court that they had been removed from the website once the intra-party elections had concluded.

Justice Isa then asked Zafar to show any sort of proof that candidates’ fees or nomination papers had been received. The lawyer replied that fees were received in cash, to which Justice Isa questioned which political party collects their fees in cash.

Justice Hilali said, “Your party’s slogan is to empower people but the same cannot be seen here.” Zafar responded that the party had been given 20 days for “whatever mistakes” they had made.

This is talk from three and a half years ago that the ECP had directed you to hold elections, Justice Isa said. “Your response was that one year was given.”

“The ECP showed bravery by submitting a notice during the [PTI’s] government,” Justice Isa remarked, to which Zafar replied that the electoral watchdog had issued notices to all political parties and not just the PTI.

Here, Justice Mazhar said that the schedule for the intra-party polls issued by the PTI “seemed practically impossible”. “If you have to make decisions according to your wishes instead of the law, then I cannot accept them.

“All political parties should be treated equally. The ECP told us that no objections were raised on other parties’ intra-party polls,” he noted, adding that “only PTI members did not get a level playing field”.

During one of his arguments, Zafar noted that according to the law, it was mandatory for the ECP to issue the certificate of inter-party elections to the PTI.

“The main thing is to have elections, not certificates,” the CJP responded. “Not having a certificate is not a problem, not having an election is a problem. The certificate can come even without an election.”

“Why is PTI afraid of elections?” the judge asked.

Justice Isa asked Zafar once again to provide any documents as proof that PTI’s intra-party elections had indeed taken place.

“If the PTI needed more time, it was said before that the decision [of Peshawar High Court] will have to be suspended,” Justice Isa said,

The CJP also asked Zafar to provide Imran’s nomination letter in favour of Barrister Gohar, to which he was told that there was no such letter and the decision was simply announced in the media.

“If Imran Khan says tomorrow he did not give this nomination, then what will happen?” the judge wondered.

In an interaction with PTI’s Niazi, Justice Isa remarked that the inclusion of new people in the party creates suspicion that influential people had taken over the party.

“You are insulting me,” Niazi replied, accusing Justice Isa of asking him PTI-related question even during his son’s interview to obtain license to practice as a lawyer. “I have been appearing before you for the past three years. I know why this is happening to me.”

“If you want to maintain this attitude, we won’t even hear the case. If you want to tarnish the reputation of institutions by blaming them, go ahead and do it,” the CJP remarked, forcing Zafar to intervene and apologise on Niazi’s behalf.

Zafar, continuing his arguments, said that the PTI wanted the intra-party polls to be held in Islamabad but no one was willing to give their place for the polls.

Here, Justice Hilali asked if PTI had an office where the polls were held, to which Zafar replied saying that the ground at which the polls were held was right next to the party’s office.

Justice Mazhar asked if the details of the location of the intra-party polls were shared with the ECP.

PTI counsel replied that the ECP letter was not responded to, however, the police were alerted about it. “The location of the polling location was also disclosed through the media.”

“When Akbar S Babar came, the polling time had already ended,” Barrister Zafar said. “We wouldn’t have had any reservations if he wanted to contest the elections.”

The ECP’s petition, submitted by former attorney general Makhdoom Ali Khan, argued that the PHC should not have proceeded with the case without first issuing a notice to the attorney general for Pakistan (AGP).

This procedural step was necessary because the legal question at hand pertained to the federal government, involving the interpretation of Article 17 of the Constitution and its relationship with the provisions of the Elections Act of 2017, it said.

The petition also highlighted that the PHC’s order conflicted with previous Supreme Court rulings, which have consistently discouraged high courts from intervening in the electoral process, which, as per the Constitution, was exclusively within the ECP’s jurisdiction.

The petition emphasised that the high court’s judgement effectively nullified key sections of the Elections Act and Election Rules by restricting the ECP’s constitutional and statutory roles in regulating and supervising intra-party elections of political parties. This interpretation contradicted the principles established in previous superior court rulings, it said.

Furthermore, it undermined the fundamental purpose of Section 215(5) of the Act, in conjunction with Rules 157 and 158, which aim to foster democracy, pluralism, and transparency within political parties by ensuring timely intra-party elections, it added.

Additionally, the PHC ruling disregarded the essence of Section 208(2) of the Elections Act, which is intended to guarantee equal opportunities for all party members to contest elections for any political party office.

It said the high court order not only rendered relevant provisions practically redundant but also enabled a political party to undertake “sham” intra-party elections without any checks and balances. This, the ECP’s petition said, was not only contrary to Article 17 of the Constitution but was also in conflict with the principles of democracy.

The petition also pointed out that the PHC’s order overlooked the fact that the Elections Act was enacted under a democratic government and led to the repeal of various election laws, some of which were established during times of extra-constitutional rule.

Dawn

PTI bat-tered, loses iconic electoral symbol as SC restores ECP order

PTI's Barrister Gohar Khan says the party would file review plea against the verdict; Akbar S. Babar terms SC decision "historic".

www.dawn.com

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Elections 2024: PTI loses its iconic 'bat' symbol again as SC annuls PHC verdict

The PHC annulled the ECP’s ruling that revoked the PTI’s cherished electoral symbol citing irregularities in the party’s internal polls.

The CJP pointed out yesterday that the high court in its decision had ordered the provision of the electoral symbol and certificate to the PTI but not issued the declaration of its intra-party elections.

As the hearing commenced today, the chief justice said the PHC has issued its detailed order. PTI's counsel Hamid Khan took the rostrum. PTI lawyer Ali Zafar and the party's chief election commissioner Niazullah Niazi and chairman Barrister Gohar were also present in the courtroom.

Hamid said he would try to wrap up his arguments soon as today was the last day to submit party tickets to ECP. Justice Isa agreed that the court also has less time as the order needs to be issued, hinting that the verdict would be announced today.

Justice Mazhar then posed two questions, whether the ECP has the authority to investigate intra-party polls and whether the apex court has jurisdiction.

PTI's counsel stated that the electoral body does not have the right to review a party's intra-party polls under the Elections Act 2017 or the Constitution.

He maintained that the ECP had "discriminated" against PTI and added that none of the party's members had challenged the intra-party election and reiterated that those challenging were not party members.

Zafar added that the commission had not mentioned any irregularity in its Dec 22 order and the reasons given were "strange".

CJP Isa asked the lawyer to provide context to the court for the allegations against ECP and to keep the "arguments legal".

After further back and forth, the CJP observed that the party's constitution stated that the "chairman shall be elected every two years while others every three years. Violation of the party constitution is proved to this extent".

The top judge observed that PTI was served a notice by ECP when the party was in the government. Justice Mazhar asked whether the party had followed the election schedule it issued and were the intra-party polls transparent.

"You ask for a level-playing field but would also have to give the same to party members."

Justice Mazhar observed that irregularities pointed out by the ECP are from PTI's constitution itself, to which the party's counsel said that the ECP has not identified any concerning election schedule and venue.

The CJP then said the matter is whether the inter-party polls were conducted or not.

Zafar reiterated that the ECP did not have the authority to scrutinise inter-party elections, however, Justice Isa said the counsel had himself stated that the electoral body could impose a fine for not properly holding polls but is arguing simultaneously that the ECP does not have authority.

The bench further questioned the manner in which the polls were held and questioned the lack of evidence for arguments presented in court.

Source: The Express Tribune/Samaa News

 

[Bewal Express]

Elections 2024: PTI loses its iconic 'bat' symbol again as SC annuls PHC verdict

What a surprise. Corrupt Qazi becomes the Mafias biggest supporter. Pathetic and corrupt

 

[Bewal Express]

They told us that the London plan involved
IK to be jailed
PTI supporters would be beaten and killed
Reps would be beaten and killed
The bat would be taken from PTI.

Qazi would allow all this and NS had full faith in him.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

A country of 220 million people, not one is capable of taking out this judge…

 

[Hextro]

They told us that the London plan involved
IK to be jailed
PTI supporters would be beaten and killed
Reps would be beaten and killed
The bat would be taken from PTI.

Qazi would allow all this and NS had full faith in him.

The cowards aren't even confident in their rigging skills. They're pulling all the strings just to try to make frauds like PMLN and PPP competitive.

Let's see how far these leaches want to take things come the elections.

 

[Bewal Express]

The cowards aren't even confident in their rigging skills. They're pulling all the strings just to try to make frauds like PMLN and PPP competitive.

Let's see how far these leaches want to take things come the elections.

I can remember people saying Qazi would show his true colours about being anti establishment but his true colours were always clear to us. The pathetic loser is a mafia man, a man that couldn't explain his millions in London, sits as a Qazi. What a loser

 

[Bewal Express]

A country of 220 million people, not one is capable of taking out this judge…

IA his time will come. He will have to hide in Spain because like Bajwa he will have to hide.

 

[Bewal Express]

Qazi is bitter because he wanted to be seen as a great Jurist. But this decision confirms what we knew, a crook that a made a deal to save his bacon. The Qazi needs to realise that neither Munir or NS are some special being and the public know exactly why we hated him so much

 

[BouncerGuy]

Elections 2024: PTI loses its iconic 'bat' symbol again as SC annuls PHC verdict

The PHC annulled the ECP’s ruling that revoked the PTI’s cherished electoral symbol citing irregularities in the party’s internal polls.

The CJP pointed out yesterday that the high court in its decision had ordered the provision of the electoral symbol and certificate to the PTI but not issued the declaration of its intra-party elections.

As the hearing commenced today, the chief justice said the PHC has issued its detailed order. PTI's counsel Hamid Khan took the rostrum. PTI lawyer Ali Zafar and the party's chief election commissioner Niazullah Niazi and chairman Barrister Gohar were also present in the courtroom.

Hamid said he would try to wrap up his arguments soon as today was the last day to submit party tickets to ECP. Justice Isa agreed that the court also has less time as the order needs to be issued, hinting that the verdict would be announced today.

Justice Mazhar then posed two questions, whether the ECP has the authority to investigate intra-party polls and whether the apex court has jurisdiction.

PTI's counsel stated that the electoral body does not have the right to review a party's intra-party polls under the Elections Act 2017 or the Constitution.

He maintained that the ECP had "discriminated" against PTI and added that none of the party's members had challenged the intra-party election and reiterated that those challenging were not party members.

Zafar added that the commission had not mentioned any irregularity in its Dec 22 order and the reasons given were "strange".

CJP Isa asked the lawyer to provide context to the court for the allegations against ECP and to keep the "arguments legal".

After further back and forth, the CJP observed that the party's constitution stated that the "chairman shall be elected every two years while others every three years. Violation of the party constitution is proved to this extent".

The top judge observed that PTI was served a notice by ECP when the party was in the government. Justice Mazhar asked whether the party had followed the election schedule it issued and were the intra-party polls transparent.

"You ask for a level-playing field but would also have to give the same to party members."

Justice Mazhar observed that irregularities pointed out by the ECP are from PTI's constitution itself, to which the party's counsel said that the ECP has not identified any concerning election schedule and venue.

The CJP then said the matter is whether the inter-party polls were conducted or not.

Zafar reiterated that the ECP did not have the authority to scrutinise inter-party elections, however, Justice Isa said the counsel had himself stated that the electoral body could impose a fine for not properly holding polls but is arguing simultaneously that the ECP does not have authority.

The bench further questioned the manner in which the polls were held and questioned the lack of evidence for arguments presented in court.

Source: The Express Tribune/Samaa News

I have no hopes from this judicial system, pathetic and biased decision and the main culprits are those who forced the people to commit such crimes.

 

[BouncerGuy]

‘Huge blow to fundamental rights’: Lawyers, political experts in disbelief over SC’s decision to strip PTI of its electoral symbol

Asad Rahim calls it an "utterly ludicrous order", while Ammar Ali Jan deems it "not just a defeat for PTI but a defeat for democratic norms in Pakistan".

Legal eagles and political experts were in disbelief after the Supreme Court on Saturday decided to strip PTI of its iconic election symbol ‘bat’ by reinstating the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision.

The apex court, a little before midnight, announced the verdict, dealing a huge blow to the embattled party’s hopes of retaining its symbol.

Lawyer Reema Omer said the court’s verdict was “excessive, punitive … and a huge blow to our fundamental rights”.

Another lawyer and himself an election candidate, Jibran Nasir, listed down the major consequences of the Supreme Court decision, and regretted that the verdict would disenfranchise “tens of millions of voters across Pakistan”.

Barrister Asad Rahim Khan was scathing in his criticism of the verdict, saying: “Given the nature of its decisions and the now routine absurdity of its logic, this is probably the shortest time in which the Supreme Court has lost its credibility. An utterly ludicrous order.”

Activist Ammar Ali Jan said the verdict was “not just a defeat for PTI but a defeat for democratic norms in Pakistan”.

Uzair Younis, director of the Atlantic Council’s Pakistan Initiative, said that “there are no winners here. The only loser is Pakistan and its democracy.”

Lawyer Hassan A. Niazi said the verdict sets a “terrible precedent” and “contradicts the court’s own settled jurisprudence in the Benazir Bhutto case on fundamental rights”.

“It is not just the rights of a political party that were at stake but the rights of millions of voters who have now been effectively stripped of exercising their choice in favour of a political party,” he added.

Mirza Moiz Baig, another lawyer, pointed out that the ECP’s decision to strip PTI of its electoral symbol and the Supreme Court affirming the same “appears to be inconsistent with the Elections Act and the Supreme Court’s own judgment in the District Bar Rawalpindi case”.

“Section 208(5) of the Elections Act, for instance, states that where a political party fails to conduct elections within time, such party shall be liable to a fine,” he explained. “Given that the legislature consciously failed to add any more penalties in Section 208, the ECP’s action against PTI seems beyond the mandate of the law. Moreover, Section 215 of the 2017 Act read with Section 209 only obliges a party so submit a certificate affirming that it has conducted intra-party polls according to the law and it’s own constitution.

“Interestingly, prior to the 18th Amendment, Article 17(4) of the Constitution provided that each political party shall be liable to conducting elections. Nonetheless, after the Amendment omitting Article 17(4), the Supreme Court in District Bar Rawalpindi’s case acknowledged that intra-party polls were not a “sina qua non for a democratic set up.”

Michael Kugelman, an analyst and scholar on South Asian affairs, called the development “brazen, not subtle, pre-polls rigging”.

SOURCE: DAWN​

 

[Bewal Express]

‘Huge blow to fundamental rights’: Lawyers, political experts in disbelief over SC’s decision to strip PTI of its electoral symbol

Asad Rahim calls it an "utterly ludicrous order", while Ammar Ali Jan deems it "not just a defeat for PTI but a defeat for democratic norms in Pakistan".

Legal eagles and political experts were in disbelief after the Supreme Court on Saturday decided to strip PTI of its iconic election symbol ‘bat’ by reinstating the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision.

The apex court, a little before midnight, announced the verdict, dealing a huge blow to the embattled party’s hopes of retaining its symbol.

Lawyer Reema Omer said the court’s verdict was “excessive, punitive … and a huge blow to our fundamental rights”.

Another lawyer and himself an election candidate, Jibran Nasir, listed down the major consequences of the Supreme Court decision, and regretted that the verdict would disenfranchise “tens of millions of voters across Pakistan”.

Barrister Asad Rahim Khan was scathing in his criticism of the verdict, saying: “Given the nature of its decisions and the now routine absurdity of its logic, this is probably the shortest time in which the Supreme Court has lost its credibility. An utterly ludicrous order.”

Activist Ammar Ali Jan said the verdict was “not just a defeat for PTI but a defeat for democratic norms in Pakistan”.

Uzair Younis, director of the Atlantic Council’s Pakistan Initiative, said that “there are no winners here. The only loser is Pakistan and its democracy.”

Lawyer Hassan A. Niazi said the verdict sets a “terrible precedent” and “contradicts the court’s own settled jurisprudence in the Benazir Bhutto case on fundamental rights”.

“It is not just the rights of a political party that were at stake but the rights of millions of voters who have now been effectively stripped of exercising their choice in favour of a political party,” he added.

Mirza Moiz Baig, another lawyer, pointed out that the ECP’s decision to strip PTI of its electoral symbol and the Supreme Court affirming the same “appears to be inconsistent with the Elections Act and the Supreme Court’s own judgment in the District Bar Rawalpindi case”.

“Section 208(5) of the Elections Act, for instance, states that where a political party fails to conduct elections within time, such party shall be liable to a fine,” he explained. “Given that the legislature consciously failed to add any more penalties in Section 208, the ECP’s action against PTI seems beyond the mandate of the law. Moreover, Section 215 of the 2017 Act read with Section 209 only obliges a party so submit a certificate affirming that it has conducted intra-party polls according to the law and it’s own constitution.

“Interestingly, prior to the 18th Amendment, Article 17(4) of the Constitution provided that each political party shall be liable to conducting elections. Nonetheless, after the Amendment omitting Article 17(4), the Supreme Court in District Bar Rawalpindi’s case acknowledged that intra-party polls were not a “sina qua non for a democratic set up.”

Michael Kugelman, an analyst and scholar on South Asian affairs, called the development “brazen, not subtle, pre-polls rigging”.

SOURCE: DAWN​

PK is a lawless place where the Establishment and their front men are the public faces

 

[FearlessRoar]

Following the Supreme Court’s (SC) landmark verdict that stripped PTI of its iconic electoral symbol, Hum Awam Pakistan Party (HAPP) has once again approached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and sought “bat” for the General Elections 2024, ARY News reported.

The Hum Awam Pakistan Party has submitted another application to the electoral watchdog and requested it to allot the party “Bat” as its electoral symbol as the apex court announced the verdict on the matter.

In the fresh application, the Hum Awam Pakistan Party maintained that earlier it was denied the “Bat” symbol by the ECP as the case was sub-judice before the Peshawar High Court (PHC) and then the Supreme Court.

“Now the matter has been settled as the apex court upheld the ECP verdict, the Hum Awam Pakistan Party should be allotted the Bat symbol,” the party requested.

In December 2023, the Hum Awam Pakistan Party approached the ECP and sought electoral symbol of “Bat”. The party’s Additional Secretary Ahmed Zaman Khan maintained that their election symbol was “Lock” but it was revoked by the ECP for not submitting the declarations.

Ahmar Zaman said his party was the first to ask for the “Bat” symbol, demanding that it should be allotted the same.

Earlier on Saturday, the PTI lost “Bat” as an election symbol after the apex court declared the PHC verdict null and void.

Announcing the verdict reserved earlier, the three-judge bench of Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali ruled that the PTI failed to present evidence of holding transparent intra-party elections as all political parties are bound to hold free and fair intra-party elections.

ARY

Elections 2024: Another party in race to get “Bat” symbol

ISLAMABAD: Following the Supreme Court's (SC) landmark verdict that stripped PTI of its iconic electoral symbol, Hum Awam Pakistan Party (HAPP) has once

arynews.tv

 

[MenInG]

Bat is just a symbol, it will be replaced with another.

Simple people.

 

[UP]

I don’t know if we ever will be free from their clutches. These people are enemies of Pakistan and we were fed the whole life India was our enemy. How wrong we were!

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Bat is just a symbol, it will be replaced with another.

Simple people.

I dont think PTI gets a symbol does it?

I have been distant from Pakistani politics after the Gaza situation....it all seems so pointless.

But from what I understand PTI will have no symbol. Which is a complete disaster.

 

[Bewal Express]

Mansoor Ali Khan has said today that a very powerful person( it could only by Munir) has told him that IK is never coming out and will disappear soon. If this is true and we have no reason not to believe it shows that our establishment are playing God.

 

[UP]

Mansoor Ali Khan has said today that a very powerful person( it could only by Munir) has told him that IK is never coming out and will disappear soon. If this is true and we have no reason not to believe it shows that our establishment are playing God.

This guy is a paid londa lapara, in other words a munafiq. If Khan is eliminated then its curtains for Pakistan.

 

[Bewal Express]

This guy is a paid londa lapara, in other words a munafiq. If Khan is eliminated then its curtains for Pakistan.

We thought that about the London plan and today it has been implemented chapter and verse and exactly as they said. Normally PKs have fear of the Americans and their power through trade and IMF and as we know they are the ones behind it. Munir is a sadistic man and I don't think he will stop. In the Vlog Munir told Mansoor that they are looking at KP and I think the reaction of KP is the only thing that is stopping Munir and NS from killing IK. As we know, we Punjabis have about as much bravery as the French showed against the Germans.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Following the verdict, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar said that all party candidates would contest elections independently.

Here’s the list of symbols allotted to PTI candidates:

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who has been deprived of his post of PTI chairman after Supreme Court judgement, was allotted “teapot” as election symbol while Shaukat Yousafzai’s symbol has been “racket”.

PTI’s Shahryar Afridi will contest election with “bottle” symbol, Shandana Gulzar has been given the symbol of “bowl”.

PTI senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s children Mehr Bano Qureshi and Zain Hussain Qureshi have been allotted electoral symbols chimta (tongs) for NA-151 and shoe for NA-150 constituencies of Multan, respectively.

Umair Niazi will fight the election with the symbol ‘door’ on Mianwali’s NA-90 seat. Shoaib Shaheen has been given a ‘shoe’ to contest elections in Islamabad’s NA-46 constituency.

‘Piyala’ (bowl) will represent Shandana Gulzar in NA-30 constituency of Peshawar and ‘kettle’ will represent Barrister Gohar Ali Khan in NA-10 constituency of Buner.

Jamshed Dasti, who is contesting on two National Assembly seats from Muzaffargardh, has been allotted ‘harmonium’ for NA-175 seat and ‘aeroplane’ for NA-176.

According to the returning officer, in NA-177, PTI’s Maqsood Khan Jatoi has been allotted the symbol of a Hookah, and in NA-178, PTI’s Daud Khan Jatoi has been given the symbol of a keychain.

PTI’s Shairam Tarkai from PA-20 and Rangzeb Khan from PK-49 have been given the symbol of a dove.

In PK-50, peacock has been allotted to PTI’s Aqibullah Khan, and in PK-51, Abdul Karim has been given the symbol of a kettle.

On the other hand, PMLN has been allotted the ‘lion’ symbol, PPPP ‘arrow’, JI ‘scale’, PTI-Nazaryati ‘batsman’, IPP ‘eagle’, MQM-P ‘kite’ and TLP allotted ‘crane’.


Source: ARY News

 

[Savak]

Mansoor Ali Khan has said today that a very powerful person( it could only by Munir) has told him that IK is never coming out and will disappear soon. If this is true and we have no reason not to believe it shows that our establishment are playing God.

The establishment stated the same about Nawaz Sharif in 2017 and about the Bhuttos in the 80's, nothing is permanent in Pakistani politics, everything is army dependent.

That said if pti is to survive in the long run and maintain its support base in the long run, they have to show that their party is more than IK. IK is now 70 plus years old and has only so much mileage left.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

PTI banks on social media to make up for ‘bat’ loss

After it was deprived of its electoral symbol by the Election Commission, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has decided to capitalise on its strong social media network to remain in touch with its supporters in addition to setting up a portal featuring the party’s candidates alongside their electoral symbols for Feb 8 polls.

In a statement on ‘X’, formerly Twitter, the former ruling party said a portal to search for candidates and their symbols had been created. “See video below showing a search for ‘NA-1’ and the results with candidate name and symbol. We are just waiting for data for each candidate before we go live! #ChallengeAccepted,” the tweet read.

PTI Information Secretary Raoof Hasan said the portal would be fully functional within two days. “There will be two separate portals for the National and provincial assemblies. We will share the links of these portals through social media sites and our voters will be able to identify the national and provincial assembly candidates backed by the PTI for their constituencies,” he told Dawn.

Mr Hasan said that voters will only need to enter the number of a constituency in the portal and the candidate supported by the PTI along with the symbol will pop up.

A day earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan allotted separate symbols to PTI candidates, instead of the ‘bat’, after the Supreme Court upheld an ECP ruling stripping the PTI of its electoral symbol on Saturday night.

Since the PTI candidates do not have a joint platform to contest elections, this portal will facilitate them to identify the nominees contesting elections with the backing of the PTI.

‘Door-to-door campaign’

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the PTI had remained in power for two consecutive terms, the Imran-led party has decided to use its social media network and a door-to-door campaign to inform its voters.

“The PTI has nominated candidates for each national and provincial assembly’s seat in the province, who have been allotted different election symbols by the ECP,” Ikram Khatana, the social media head of PTI’s KP chapter told Dawn.

According to the PTI leader, they will approach the masses through popular social media platforms to seek votes for the PTI candidates and also inform them about the name and symbol of each candidate vying for the national and provincial seats. “The workers would record short videos of the corner meetings, workers’ conventions, rallies and other activities related to the election campaign which would be then shared on the social media in the respective constituencies,” Mr Khatana said.

“Keeping in view the popularity of social media, it will only take a few hours to communicate to the masses, particularly the PTI voters, about the symbols allotted to the PTI-backed candidates in each constituency,” he said.

Mr Khatana further said that WhatsApp groups have already been formed on the local level for the effective communication of the party messages regarding the elections.

Hassan Khan, a party worker and resident of Kohat Road, told Dawn that they will use social media platforms to inform the masses about the PTI’s nominated candidates and the symbols allotted to them to remove any confusion.

For instance, PTI’s PK-84 nominee Fazal Ilahi was allocated the symbol of ‘badge’ and it only took, Hassan Khan said, a couple of hours to know about the electoral symbol allotted to Mr Ilahi. He claimed that the PTI voters were using Facebook to share the picture and symbol of Fazal Ilahi and added that a similar pattern would be repeated countrywide.

The symbols allotted to PTI’s nominated candidates who will contest elections as independent candidates include dove, sickle, dolphin, cot, pillow, racket, pomegranate, aeroplane, kettle, wheelchair, fan, tea cup, wall clock, pressure cooker, goat, frying pan, and green chilli.

Source : Dawn News

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Solangi praises top court’s ‘bat’ ruling​

Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi said on Sunday that it was in the interest of all political forces and parties concerned that general elections should be held on February 8.

Speaking at the seventh edition of Think Fest 2024, the minister said it would be good for the country if the elections were held on the scheduled day i.e., Thursday, February 8.

The minister stressed that every political party should give its members the right to vote in the election of its office-bearers. He said in his opinion, Saturday’s Apex Court decision was a good precedent. It would have been better if there were legal experts in the panel who could explain the legal position, he added.

He reminded that it was clearly written in the preamble of the Constitution that Pakistan would be run by the elected representatives. The minister said that in the run-up to the elections, everyone was complaining about the level playing field.

The Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) were voicing their complaints in that regard while Maulana Fazlur Rehman also complained of a lack of level playing field in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

"In fact, the working class of Pakistan does not have a level playing field," Solangi maintained. Without a fundamental change in the system enabling the common man to contest elections, there would not be a level playing field, he remarked.

Terming political instability and economic survival of the country main challenges, Solangi said the next government might be facing economic issues.

"We need improvement in the economy. With the principal amount of the overall budget used for servicing big loans and other payments, it is difficult to run the country," he said.

The minister said that the agriculture contributed about a quarter of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), but the tax collection from the sector was very low.

Moreover, he added, the population was increasing rapidly, which was burdening the sectors like health and education. He said Pakistan was also bearing the brunt of climate change as well. "We have to improve relations with our neighboring countries, as, otherwise, we cannot become economically strong," Solangi maintained.

About the protesters from Balochistan in Islamabad, he minister said that they were offered to hold their sit-in either at F-9 Park or H-9 but they insisted on going to the D Chowk in Red Zone. "No group, be it political or religious, is allowed to enter the Red Zone," Solangi said.

He said the police had to take action when the protesters camping outside the National Press Club tried to enter the Red Zone. Later, the government's negotiation committee held talks with them and then the women and children arrested by the police were released first. Another 163 people were released in the second phase and finally the remaining 34 were also set free.

Medical facilities, including an ambulance were also provided to the protestors, he added. The Balochistan governor and other members of the committee persuaded the protesters to go back peacefully, he said.

The minister said that there was a need of a negotiating committee having representation of major political parties that could give a better solution to this problem.

Source : The Express Tribune

 

[Bewal Express]

Solangi praises top court’s ‘bat’ ruling​

Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi said on Sunday that it was in the interest of all political forces and parties concerned that general elections should be held on February 8.

Speaking at the seventh edition of Think Fest 2024, the minister said it would be good for the country if the elections were held on the scheduled day i.e., Thursday, February 8.

The minister stressed that every political party should give its members the right to vote in the election of its office-bearers. He said in his opinion, Saturday’s Apex Court decision was a good precedent. It would have been better if there were legal experts in the panel who could explain the legal position, he added.

He reminded that it was clearly written in the preamble of the Constitution that Pakistan would be run by the elected representatives. The minister said that in the run-up to the elections, everyone was complaining about the level playing field.

The Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) were voicing their complaints in that regard while Maulana Fazlur Rehman also complained of a lack of level playing field in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

"In fact, the working class of Pakistan does not have a level playing field," Solangi maintained. Without a fundamental change in the system enabling the common man to contest elections, there would not be a level playing field, he remarked.

Terming political instability and economic survival of the country main challenges, Solangi said the next government might be facing economic issues.

"We need improvement in the economy. With the principal amount of the overall budget used for servicing big loans and other payments, it is difficult to run the country," he said.

The minister said that the agriculture contributed about a quarter of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), but the tax collection from the sector was very low.

Moreover, he added, the population was increasing rapidly, which was burdening the sectors like health and education. He said Pakistan was also bearing the brunt of climate change as well. "We have to improve relations with our neighboring countries, as, otherwise, we cannot become economically strong," Solangi maintained.

About the protesters from Balochistan in Islamabad, he minister said that they were offered to hold their sit-in either at F-9 Park or H-9 but they insisted on going to the D Chowk in Red Zone. "No group, be it political or religious, is allowed to enter the Red Zone," Solangi said.

He said the police had to take action when the protesters camping outside the National Press Club tried to enter the Red Zone. Later, the government's negotiation committee held talks with them and then the women and children arrested by the police were released first. Another 163 people were released in the second phase and finally the remaining 34 were also set free.

Medical facilities, including an ambulance were also provided to the protestors, he added. The Balochistan governor and other members of the committee persuaded the protesters to go back peacefully, he said.

The minister said that there was a need of a negotiating committee having representation of major political parties that could give a better solution to this problem.

Source : The Express Tribune

He pretended to br Liberal, shows that he isn't anything more than a useless man. BTW he is supposed to be neutral in a caretaker govt

 

[adi_62941]

It is nothing new that is happening; the only difference is that now they have PTI to crush instead of the old PPP, PMLN, or MQM.

The system and procedures remain the same. Before BB, Altaf, Nawaz, and Zardari were in jail, and now it's IK's turn.

I will only believe in this country when all these major political parties sign a grand charter of democracy and stand against the establishment, even if they have to lose one part of Pakistan; otherwise, there is no hope for this country.

These BA-pass, stupid duffer generals have made a mockery of our system, be it Pervez Musharraf, Bajwa, or Asim. They were all taught these political insurgencies during their training in Kakul.

 

[adi_62941]

It is nothing new that is happening; the only difference is that now they have PTI to crush instead of the old PPP, PMLN, or MQM.

The system and procedures remain the same. Before BB, Altaf, Nawaz, and Zardari were in jail, and now it's IK's turn.

I will only believe in this country when all these major political parties sign a grand charter of democracy and stand against the establishment, even if they have to lose one part of Pakistan; otherwise, there is no hope for this country. Even if IK were given a fair chance to participate and compete in elections, there is a high likelihood that after winning, he would unquestionably align himself with the army chief and start praising him as if he were the god of thrones. This is why there is no hope whatsoever with the current system in place

These BA-pass, stupid duffer establishment guys have made a mockery of our system, be it Pervez Musharraf, Bajwa, or Asim. They were all taught these political insurgencies during their training in Kakul.

 

[UP]

It is nothing new that is happening; the only difference is that now they have PTI to crush instead of the old PPP, PMLN, or MQM.

The system and procedures remain the same. Before BB, Altaf, Nawaz, and Zardari were in jail, and now it's IK's turn.

I will only believe in this country when all these major political parties sign a grand charter of democracy and stand against the establishment, even if they have to lose one part of Pakistan; otherwise, there is no hope for this country. Even if IK were given a fair chance to participate and compete in elections, there is a high likelihood that after winning, he would unquestionably align himself with the army chief and start praising him as if he were the god of thrones. This is why there is no hope whatsoever with the current system in place

These BA-pass, stupid duffer establishment guys have made a mockery of our system, be it Pervez Musharraf, Bajwa, or Asim. They were all taught these political insurgencies during their training in Kakul.

Agreed.

Establishment has to go back to barracks. They have eaten and destroyed Pakistan in 75 years. They don’t let any government work for the betterment of the country. They are constantly interfering and pulling strings behind scenes. All they do is make videos and blackmail judges and politicians. These people promote corrupt politicians so they are easy to control. All they do is chop and change governments every few years and hence the constant instability and chaos. And the latest wants to bring in billions of dollars from Arabs amid ongoing circus. Nobody will give a dime unless they are know the country is stable and they can pull off profits.

 

[Bewal Express]

It is nothing new that is happening; the only difference is that now they have PTI to crush instead of the old PPP, PMLN, or MQM.

The system and procedures remain the same. Before BB, Altaf, Nawaz, and Zardari were in jail, and now it's IK's turn.

I will only believe in this country when all these major political parties sign a grand charter of democracy and stand against the establishment, even if they have to lose one part of Pakistan; otherwise, there is no hope for this country. Even if IK were given a fair chance to participate and compete in elections, there is a high likelihood that after winning, he would unquestionably align himself with the army chief and start praising him as if he were the god of thrones. This is why there is no hope whatsoever with the current system in place

These BA-pass, stupid duffer establishment guys have made a mockery of our system, be it Pervez Musharraf, Bajwa, or Asim. They were all taught these political insurgencies during their training in Kakul.

The COD cant be signed unless they have an amnesty and the criminals bring back their money and put it in the national treasury and ask for forgiveness. The chances of that happening is as about as likely as an Alien riding a unicorn in Piccadilly circus on the 32nd of December

 

[FearlessRoar]

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief organiser Maryam Nawaz on Monday said Nawaz Sharif will become prime minister of Pakistan for the fourth term, ARY News reported.

“No matter how many times you have ousted Nawaz Sharif, he will again become PM with the help of the masses,” Maryam said while addressing a mammoth public gathering in Okara to kick off the election campaign ahead of the February 8 polls.

A large number of people belonging to various walks of life attended the public rally of PML-N.

Addressing the rally, Maryam Nawaz thanked the people of Okara for turning in huge numbers to the jalsagah.

Maryam Nawaz said: “Oppressors, inflicting injustice upon Nawaz Sharif and the people, are reaching their logical end”.

The daughter of the former prime minister said those who were doing accountability of others are on the run now. The one who called others thieves, sold expensive watch gifted by the Saudi crown prince, and she lashed out at the PTI founder.

Maryam Nawaz said a ‘terrorist’ organization cannot be given the electoral symbol of a political party.

Taking a jibe at PTI, she said PML-N can request ECP to grant the electoral symbol of “stick”, used to attack state institutions on May 9 or “watch” to PTI.

Appealing to the people of Okara to vote for “Lion” on February 8, the PML-N’s chief organiser said that more votes for the PML-N means more prosperity in Pakistan.

Earlier, rose petals were showered on the daughter of the three-time prime minister upon her arrival at the jalsagah.

ARY

Maryam Nawaz takes a jibe at PTI over "bat" symbol

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief organiser Maryam Nawaz on Monday said Nawaz Sharif will become prime minister of Pakistan for the fourth term,

arynews.tv

 

[Bewal Express]

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief organiser Maryam Nawaz on Monday said Nawaz Sharif will become prime minister of Pakistan for the fourth term, ARY News reported.

“No matter how many times you have ousted Nawaz Sharif, he will again become PM with the help of the masses,” Maryam said while addressing a mammoth public gathering in Okara to kick off the election campaign ahead of the February 8 polls.

A large number of people belonging to various walks of life attended the public rally of PML-N.

Addressing the rally, Maryam Nawaz thanked the people of Okara for turning in huge numbers to the jalsagah.

Maryam Nawaz said: “Oppressors, inflicting injustice upon Nawaz Sharif and the people, are reaching their logical end”.

The daughter of the former prime minister said those who were doing accountability of others are on the run now. The one who called others thieves, sold expensive watch gifted by the Saudi crown prince, and she lashed out at the PTI founder.

Maryam Nawaz said a ‘terrorist’ organization cannot be given the electoral symbol of a political party.

Taking a jibe at PTI, she said PML-N can request ECP to grant the electoral symbol of “stick”, used to attack state institutions on May 9 or “watch” to PTI.

Appealing to the people of Okara to vote for “Lion” on February 8, the PML-N’s chief organiser said that more votes for the PML-N means more prosperity in Pakistan.

Earlier, rose petals were showered on the daughter of the three-time prime minister upon her arrival at the jalsagah.

ARY

Maryam Nawaz takes a jibe at PTI over "bat" symbol

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief organiser Maryam Nawaz on Monday said Nawaz Sharif will become prime minister of Pakistan for the fourth term,

arynews.tv

Has anybody seen the duffer. When is he going to meet the public?