On Friday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decided to deny the PTI the retention of its ‘bat’ electoral symbol for the upcoming general election on February 8.

The verdict was held back until a day after the Peshawar High Court (PHC) instructed the electoral watchdog to make a decision on PTI’s intra-party polls and electoral symbol promptly and in compliance with the law.

This decision was made shortly after the PTI’s meeting with the commission, which occurred in response to the Supreme Court’s directive for the ECP to address the party’s concerns about an uneven playing field leading up to the polls. The PTI claimed that the ECP had reassured its delegation of addressing their grievances.

In a noteworthy move, the ECP took note of the PTI’s intra-party process, resulting in the election of Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as the new chairman. These polls took place on December 3, shortly after the ECP declared the intra-party polls held in June 2022 null and void. The ECP had given the PTI a 20-day ultimatum to conduct fresh elections or risk becoming ineligible for the poll symbol.

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Order regarding PTI intra party election and ineligibility to obtain symbol bathttps://t.co/ligBkvyVfF

— Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL)🇵🇰 (@ECP_Pakistan) December 22, 2023

Breaking with tradition, the ECP took unprecedented notice of the PTI’s intra-party proceedings, resulting in the election of Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as the new chairman. These electrifying polls, held on December 3, came shortly after the ECP nullified the party’s earlier intra-party elections in June 2022, giving the PTI a razor-thin 20-day ultimatum to conduct fresh elections or risk being rendered ineligible for their coveted poll symbol. The political arena is now ablaze with speculation and intrigue as the PTI faces this resounding setback in its electoral journey.