PESHAWAR (Daily Point) — The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday temporarily suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision regarding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) intra-party elections and the associated bat symbol.

The court issued notices to all involved parties, emphasizing that the deadline for symbol allotment is January 13.

PTI contested the ECP’s ruling earlier in the day, initiating proceedings before the PHC. Presided over by Justice Kamran Hayat, the single-member bench commenced the hearing around mid-day. Barrister Gohar, a PTI leader, arrived at the court by 1 pm, prompting closure to the general public due to a sizable gathering of PTI supporters.

In their petition, PTI’s legal representatives urged the court to reverse the ECP’s decision to revoke the bat symbol and nullify the intra-party elections. The petition argues that the ECP’s actions are deemed “illegal and unconstitutional” as the commission lacked authority over the conduct of party elections.

The petition, naming Akbar S Babar and other challengers of the intra-party elections as respondents, questions the ECP’s jurisdiction to declare PTI’s elections null and void. The Election Commission had announced the invalidity of PTI’s intra-party elections on Friday, stating that the party failed to comply with its constitution, Election Rules, and the Election Act, resulting in the denial of the bat symbol for the upcoming general election.

PTI, seeking an urgent resolution, appealed to the court to constitute a bench of senior judges and schedule the petition for an immediate hearing.