Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Saturday annulled the Peshawar High Court verdict against the Election Commission of Pakistan judgement depriving the PTI from the bat symbol.
All the PTI counsels and leaders Ali Zafar, Gohar Khan, Hamid Khan, Niyaz Ullah Niyazi, were present in the court room.
The ECP counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan, important respondent in the case Akbar S Baber were also present in the court.
Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa pronouncing the SC verdict said that the ECP noticed the PTI for holding intra-party elections in 2021 adding the ECP allowed PTI time for holding elections till June 2022.
The Chief Justice said that PTI on the directions of the ECP conducted the intra-party elections.
He said that later the ECP rejected the PTI intra-party election saying it was not held fair and transparent and ordered the PTI to hold elections in coming 20 days.
PTI approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) and five member bench was established for hearing the PTI appeal against the ECP judgement, the CJ added
He apprised that On January 3, LHC single bench decision was surfaced. Later the PTI reached the Peshawar High Court (PHC) even its case was pending in the LHC.
The PTI also didn’t inform the PHC that its case already pending in the LHC, he added.
The CJ said that a matter can not be challenged in a high court when it is also pending in the other high court.
On this violation the CJ declared the PHC verdict null and void and resultantly depriving the PTI from the bat election symbol.
The CJ said that the ECP appeal is accepted. ‘
The CJ also said that the PTI alleged the ECP of malafide intentions against the PTI.
The SC has to pronounce the verdict at 9:30 but it was announced almost after two hours owing to which the CJ expressed excused over being late.
The CJ apprised that dictatorship will not run in the country while earlier in the day he said that we don’t wants disabled democracy in the country.
He said that the copy of the verdict will be uploaded over the Supreme Court website.
The SC verdict pronounced on the live on the SC you tube channel.
Earlier, the Supreme Court of Pakistan after hectic day reserved the verdict on the Election Commission of Pakistan plea against the Peshawar High Court (PHC) verdict against the verdict of the ECP and allotting of the bat symbol to the PTI.
A three member bench of the SC headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa comprising Justice Musarat Hilali and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar.
After conclusion of the hearing the CJ said that both the side contended the best arguments.
He said that for reaching the results and absorption of the arguments we need some time.
