Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has challenged the Supreme Court’s decision of depriving the party of its iconic election symbol – BAT – and has filed a review appeal in the apex court to win it back, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The PTI on Tuesday submitted the review plea in the apex court, praying for return of the election symbol of bat, urging the court to revisit its January 13 verdict.

It is to be mentioned here that the supreme court in its decision last month had upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) Dec 22 order depriving the party of its symbol of bat.

Now, the PTI urged the top court to restore the Peshawar High Court’s decision of returning the party’s election symbol.

As per the review appeal, the Supreme Court had not taken the facts of the PTI intra-party elections in true context. “Taking back the election symbol of a political party is violation of the fundamental rights of voters,” the party argued in its fresh challenge.

The PTI further argued the constitution gives citizens the right to form a political party and contest election. “The election commission by taking back the PTI’s election symbol goes beyond its authority,” it added.

“It is the election commission’s duty to ensure the level-playing field to the PTI. The commission instead of acting against those responsible, has initiated proceeding against the party’s founder in jail,” the PTI plea further stated.

Senior lawyers Hamid Khan and Ali Zafar filed the review petition in the apex court making the election commission and the complainants in the high court as respondents.

The Registrar Office has allotted diary number 2423/2024 to the petition.

A three-member bench led by CJP Qazi Faez Isa in its Jan 13 verdict dealt a huge blow to the PTI’s hopes of retaining its election symbol.

Reporter Amanat Gishkori