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The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday ordered the PTI to hold intra-party elections within 20 days to retain bat as its poll symbol.<\/p>\n
In August, the commission had given a final warning<\/a> to the PTI to hold the polls or it could be declared ineligible to obtain an election symbol.<\/p>\n It had stated that the elections were due on June 13, 2021 under the party\u2019s constitution but a year\u2019s extension<\/a> had been granted.<\/p>\n Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, representing the PTI, had said the party elections were held before an amendment in its constitution. However, the CEC claimed that the PTI amended its constitution on June 8, 2022 and conducted intra-party polls on June 10, 2022. Khan had also said the amendment in the party constitution was later withdrawn.<\/p>\n The polls organising authority had said<\/a> it issued a final notice to the PTI in May 2022 to ensure the conduct of intra-party elections \u201con or before June 13, 2022 (extended date), with the observation that no further extension shall be allowed\u201d.<\/p>\n Subsequently, the PTI submitted a copy of the amended party\u2019s constitution that was deemed \u201cinsufficient\u201d by the electoral body.<\/p>\n In October, the ECP had reserved<\/a> its verdict on the maintainability of a petition by the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party seeking to take away PTI\u2019s \u2018bat\u2019 electoral symbol.<\/p>\n