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PTI ‘bat’ symbol case: PHC adjourns hearing till tomorrow

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  • PTI lawyers request adjournment of hearing till tomorrow. 
  • Single-member bench comprising Justice Ijaz Khan hears plea.
  • PHC had suspended ECP’s order on PTI ‘bat’ symbol. 

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) will hear the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) petition challenging its single bench ruling on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) electoral ‘bat’ symbol and intra-party elections on Wednesday (tomorrow).

The electoral body had filed a review petition at the high court against its December 26 decision which had suspended the ECP’s order and restored the party’s ‘bat’ symbol till a final decision on the matter.

The ECP, in its order, had declared PTI’s intra-party polls “illegal” and stripped it of using the ‘bat’ symbol. Following its order, the former ruling party approached the PHC seeking to restore its party symbol ahead of the general elections slated for February 8.

In its petition, the ECP then requested the court to review the PTI’s intra-party elections and its decision related to the election symbol. 

Earlier today, a single-member bench comprising PHC’s Justice Ijaz Khan conducted the hearing and reserved the verdict. However, the PTI lawyers did not appear before the court and later requested to hear them before deciding the plea.

After this, the court adjourned the hearing till tomorrow.

The hearing

During the hearing, the ECP’s lawyer presented his arguments and told the court that the body had filed a review plea against the high court’s order. He added that the ECP also issued a notice to the PTI in this regard.

“PTI did not conduct the intra-party elections properly. Questions were raised on ECP’s powers and it was said that ECP’s decision was unconstitutional,” the ECP counsel said.

The lawyer said that the single bench suspended ECP’s order and issued a stay order without hearing the electoral body’s arguments.

The stay order granted by PHC was not an interim relief but is tantamount to final verdict on the matter, said the lawyer.

“The PTI also filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) when you can’t move second court after filing a plea in another,” said the ECP’s lawyer.

Justice Khan asked if there was anyone present from the petitioner’s party in the court.

At this, the ECP lawyer said that there was no one. He then requested the court to withdraw the December 26 order, adding that a bench should be constituted to hear the case properly.

Meanwhile, the advocate general said that the federation doesn’t want to be a party in the case. “We have nothing to do with it, we should be removed from this case,” he added.

The court then reserved the verdict after hearing the arguments.

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The public rejects repeated calls for protests and sit-ins because PTI wants to disrupt daily life. Ahsan

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The public rejected the elements continually calling for protests and sit-ins, according to Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, and the PTI’s performance today will also fail.

Speaking at a news conference in Lahore, the planning minister stated that the government is responsible for protecting people and property, and that the necessary precautions have been taken in this regard.

Because of its effective economic policies, Pakistan is on the path to prosperity and development, according to Ahsan Iqbal. He stated that a five-year strategy for economic advancement will be unveiled shortly by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

But the demonstrators have a sinister plan to sabotage this advancement for their own ends, he claimed.

PTI intends to disrupt everyday life and restore law and order in the nation, he claimed. However, he stressed, the law will not be taken into one’s own hands, and those who break it would face harsh consequences.

The PTI founder has been sentenced by the courts, according to Ahsan Iqbal, and his release can only occur legally—not through a sit-in or protest. According to him, the PTI founder will need to use the legal system to cleanse his name in every case.

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Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan are accused of inciting the PTI’s protest confrontations on November 24.

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Top leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including Imran Khan, the party’s founder, and his wife Bushra Bibi, are facing charges related to their alleged participation in the violent demonstrations on November 24.

The protest was found to have violated anti-terrorism regulations, leading to the first legal action after the disturbances at the Taxila police station.

In addition to major PTI members including opposition leader Omar Ayub, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, PTI’s Aleema Khan, and Senator Azam Swati, the case, which is lodged under multiple accusations, names over 300 people. The court document also names Shehryar Riaz and Taimur Masood as other leaders.

During their altercations with the police, demonstrators damaged government property, including cars and motorcycles, according to the accusation.

Another disturbing charge against the accused is the kidnapping and torture of a police driver who was allegedly detained by demonstrators before being freed.

Section 144 breach, interference with government activities, and damage to both public and private property are among the charges in the case, which is designated as No. 2594.

It is also alleged that the demonstrators caused major disturbances by obstructing roads and igniting unrest with sizable crowds.

On November 24, convoys departed for Islamabad as part of the PTI’s continuing campaign, which included the protests.

From Khyber, the convoy reached Punjab under the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

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Reaction to the PTI protest call by Fazlur Rehman

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Maulana Fazlur Rehman, speaking on a private television station, said that the PTI is always coming to the streets, which really lessens the impact of a protest.

He also suggested to the PTI leadership that rather than carrying on with the agitation, it should finally put a hard hand down, which would be the final nail in the coffin.

He continued, citing the JUI protests as an example, saying, “We had a strong grip over our protesters and workers, so neither road was closed nor any property damage occurred during protests.”

The PTI has the right to protest, but Maulana Fazlur Rehman described the party’s agitation strategy as insufficient, stating that it is currently being “exposed which maynot be a good sign’.

Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, promised not to go back home unless the PTI founder was freed. During their demonstration, Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, encouraged the party officials to come up with strategies to avoid being arrested.

According to an alleged audio recording, she stated that November 24 will be a loyalty test for PTI members.

Additionally, the government of Islamabad has enforced section 144 for a period of two months, which prohibits processions, rallies, demonstrations, and meetings of five or more individuals in the city.

As per the notification, the prohibition forbade meetings in any public space inside the boundaries of Islamabad, including the Red Zone, which encompasses important government buildings, diplomatic missions, and other sensitive sites.

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