ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) overturned the decision of Pakistan’s election regulatory authority to revoke the symbol of former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, declaring it unconstitutional and enabling the PTI to regain it.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) took away the “cricket bat” as PTI’s election symbol in an order issued on December 22 after declaring its intraparty polls null and void for violating its regulations.
Khan’s party moved the PHC against the decision which led to the restoration of its election symbol ahead of the Feb. 8 national polls. Later, the court temporarily upheld the ECP order in a review petition, though it continued the case proceedings and ultimately issued its verdict in favor of the party.
“The Peshawar High Court has announced that the Election Commission of Pakistan took the ‘bat’ symbol from PTI forcefully and it was snatched away by issuing an illegal order,” Barrister Ali Zafar told the media after the verdict was announced. “That decision has been declared null and void, and the ECP has been asked to give the ‘bat’ symbol back to the PTI immediately.”
“No one can stop the PTI from winning the elections after this,” he added.
Election symbols are crucial in Pakistan where, according to World Bank data, the adult literacy rate is just 58 percent.
The cricket bat is reflective of ex-PM Khan’s past as a successful cricketer, who led Pakistan to their only 50-over World Cup win in 1992, propelling him to an unrivaled position among the country’s cricket greats.
Political analysts previously said without the restoration of their election symbol, the PTI leaders would have to contest the upcoming elections as independent candidates.
“The election commission cannot snatch a party’s election symbol even if it does not hold intraparty polls,” Zafar told the PHC a day earlier. “The ECP’s verdict [against the party] should be nullified since it has been made with malafide intention.”
The PTI has frequently complained in recent months it is not getting a level playing field ahead of the next general elections.
Many of its top leaders are facing a number of legal cases against them and are currently incarcerated in high-security prisons in different Pakistani cities.
Pakistani court restores ex-PM Khan’s party symbol ahead of national polls, rules revocation unconstitutional
https://arab.news/6mq77
Pakistani court restores ex-PM Khan’s party symbol ahead of national polls, rules revocation unconstitutional
- The country’s election body took away ‘cricket bat’ as PTI’s symbol while declaring its intraparty polls null and void
- PTI leader Barrister Ali Zafar says no one can stop his party from winning the elections after the high court decision
Pakistan PM invites UAE investment across tech and resource sectors at National Day event
- Shehbaz Sharif says the UAE remains a key economic partner and continues to lend ‘critical support’ to Pakistan
- UAE envoy says both nations have potential for cooperation in renewable energy, AI and economic diversification
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is ready to welcome investment from the United Arab Emirates across emerging technologies and resource sectors, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday, as both countries marked the 54th National Day of the Gulf country in Islamabad.
Speaking at the ceremony attended by senior ministers, diplomats and business leaders, Sharif said the UAE remained a key economic partner for Pakistan and continued to lend “critical support” to the country’s stabilizing economy.
“Pakistan takes great pride in its strategic partnership with the UAE, which continues to deepen across every domain of life,” he said. “With Pakistan’s economy stabilizing, we stand ready to welcome Emirati investment in renewable energy, AI, fintech, agriculture and minerals.”
Sharif praised the UAE’s leadership and recalled his earliest memories of the Gulf nation as “a land that believed in possibilities long before they became realities,” saying the country’s progress under President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan commanded “profound admiration.”
UAE Ambassador Salem Al Bawab Al Zaabi said the Emirates was committed to strengthening ties with Pakistan in areas including the economy, energy and artificial intelligence.
He said the two countries shared a “deep-rooted friendship built on mutual respect, shared values and a common vision for regional peace and development.”
“We see tremendous potential for collaboration in renewable energy, artificial intelligence, sustainability and economic diversification,” the ambassador said, adding that the UAE aimed to broaden the scope of its economic relations with Pakistan.
The UAE hosts around 1.8 million Pakistani expatriates, one of the country’s largest overseas communities, who Sharif said contributed “tirelessly” to the Gulf state’s development.
Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also joined the UAE ambassador in a cake-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion.
