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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf will participate in polls even without getting cricket ‘bat’ as its symbol: Gohar Khan
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party chief Barrister Gohar Khan on Monday said that his party will participate in the general elections even without getting the cricket ‘bat’ as its electoral symbol. Khan made the remarks during a meeting with journalists in Islamabad where he responded to their questions and talked about the current political situation in Pakistan, including the challenges confronting his party, especially over the election symbol.
The party faces uncertainty over its electoral symbol as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last week rejected PTI’s intra-party elections and deprived the party of its “cricket bat” symbol. Barrister Khan was elected as the party’s new chairman in the internal elections.
The party challenged the verdict in the Peshawar High Court which on December 26 suspended the ECP’s decision. The election commission challenged the high court verdict and a two-member bench of the PHC would hear the appeal on January 2.
However, Khan said that his party would participate in the Feb 8 elections even on a different symbol if ‘bat’ was not allotted but he would never leave the field open for other parties. “Even if we do not get the bat symbol, we will still participate in the elections. PTI will not boycott the elections under any circumstances,” he said.
He also rejected the impression that his party had any dispute with the powerful military establishment. “PTI and Imran Khan have consistently said from the beginning that the military is ours, the country is ours, and there is no dispute with anyone, including the establishment,” he said.
He also lamented at the treatment meted out to his party which he termed as “unprecedented” and asked the Supreme Court to take action against lack of a level playing field for the party founded by Imran Khan.
His remarks came as the PTI faced unusual pressure to get fair treatment in the run up to the elections. The party ran into trouble after May 9 violence when its supporters attacked military installations.
The party faces uncertainty over its electoral symbol as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last week rejected PTI’s intra-party elections and deprived the party of its “cricket bat” symbol. Barrister Khan was elected as the party’s new chairman in the internal elections.
The party challenged the verdict in the Peshawar High Court which on December 26 suspended the ECP’s decision. The election commission challenged the high court verdict and a two-member bench of the PHC would hear the appeal on January 2.
However, Khan said that his party would participate in the Feb 8 elections even on a different symbol if ‘bat’ was not allotted but he would never leave the field open for other parties. “Even if we do not get the bat symbol, we will still participate in the elections. PTI will not boycott the elections under any circumstances,” he said.
He also rejected the impression that his party had any dispute with the powerful military establishment. “PTI and Imran Khan have consistently said from the beginning that the military is ours, the country is ours, and there is no dispute with anyone, including the establishment,” he said.
He also lamented at the treatment meted out to his party which he termed as “unprecedented” and asked the Supreme Court to take action against lack of a level playing field for the party founded by Imran Khan.
His remarks came as the PTI faced unusual pressure to get fair treatment in the run up to the elections. The party ran into trouble after May 9 violence when its supporters attacked military installations.
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