PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) counsel Barrister Ali Zafar Tuesday told the Peshawar High Court (PHC) his party’s elections were conducted according to the Constitution.

“We conducted party elections according to the Constitution,” the lawyer said.

Barrister Zafar’s argument came during the hearing of PTI’s pleas seeking to restore their electoral symbol bat and challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision declaring its intra-party election as null and void.

The ECP, he added, declared the party’s elections null and void and asked to hold the election again in 20 days. The lawyer maintained that the party abided by the electoral body’s decision and also provided Form 65.

“The Election Commission said that 14 objections have been received. We said that the objectors want re-election but they are not party members,” he added, further highlighting that the party was given 30 questions pertaining to the matter.

It should be noted that the PTI’s pleas are being heard by a two-member PHC bench consisting of Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Arshad Ali.

The PTI has filed a petition challenging the non-issuance of a certificate by the electoral authority, declaring its intra-party election as null and void. The ECP also revoked the party’s election symbol bat. The PTI had approached the PHC against the decision which had earlier suspended the ECP order.

However, the election watchdog filed a review petition in the high court, which restored the ECP’s earlier order and withdrew the interim relief granted to the PTI.

At the outset of the hearing, the judges expressed displeasure over the absence of PTI counsels Barrister Gohar Khan and Barrister Zafar as they arrived late for the hearing due to fog.

Justice Ijaz also pointed out the absence of other parties in the case. However, Barrister Gohar said that the parties have nothing to do with the case.

More to follow…