The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) found itself entangled in conflicting claims as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarian (PTI-P) chief Pervez Khattak alleged that he had been “offered” a symbol for the upcoming elections. This assertion raised concerns among observers and PTI supporters, who speculated that the ECP’s withdrawal of the symbol could indicate a potential handover to a splinter group.
However, the ECP swiftly refuted these allegations, with a spokesperson clarifying that no such symbol had been offered to Khattak or anyone else. This controversy followed the recent ruling by the ECP, declaring the PTI’s intra-party polls as “unconstitutional” and subsequently revoking their rights to the iconic electoral symbol.
Political analysts and politicians have expressed skepticism over the intense scrutiny faced by the PTI ahead of the elections, cautioning that such actions could undermine the credibility of the electoral process. The PTI, on its part, has denounced the ECP’s decision as flawed, illegal, biased, and an attack on the integrity of the electoral system. The party has labeled it as another part of the “London plan,” a term used to refer to alleged conspiracies against the PTI from abroad.
Pervez Khattak, once a close confidant of PTI’s founder Imran Khan, revealed that he had declined the offer to use his previous party’s electoral symbol but refrained from disclosing further details about the source of the alleged offer. In response, the ECP reiterated its denial of the claims, emphasizing that neither Khattak nor any other entity had been offered the “bat” symbol.
Khattak’s departure from the PTI came after the May 9 riots triggered by Imran Khan’s arrest in a corruption case, resulting in widespread vandalism of military installations across the country. The rift led Khattak to establish his own separate political party.
The ECP’s decision to strip the PTI of its electoral symbol came shortly after PTI representatives met with commission officials to address the party’s concerns regarding a lack of a level playing field, as ordered by the Supreme Court.
Overall, the conflicting claims and the subsequent denial by the ECP have added to the already tense political atmosphere in Pakistan, raising questions about the transparency and fairness of the upcoming elections.
