LHC larger bench to hear PTI symbol plea

LAHORE BUREAU —The Lahore High Court (LHC) has formed a larger bench to hear a petition challenging the constitutional validity of Section 215 of the Elections Act 2017 and seeking the restoration of the PTI election symbol, the bat. Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh will head the bench, which will also comprise Justice Malik Waqar Haider Awan and Justice Malik Javid Iqbal Wains.

The petition argues that Section 215 is contrary to Article 17 of the Constitution. It argues that depriving a political party of its election symbol seriously affects its political existence, participation in elections and democratic rights. Article 17 of the Constitution guarantees citizens the fundamental right to form political parties and become their members, the petition states.

It further argues that legal restrictions affecting the fundamental rights of political parties must be examined from a constitutional perspective. The case was scheduled for hearing on November 12, 2026, and a larger bench has now been constituted to hear the petition. On December 22, 2023, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stripped the PTI of its election symbol due to its alleged failure to hold intra-party polls transparently.

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) declared the ECP order illegal on January 10, 2024, while hearing a petition filed by the party. However, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court led by former chief justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa set aside the PHC order on January 14, 2024. As a result of the verdict, the PTI could not participate in the February 8, 2024 general elections as a political party and its candidates had to participate in the polls as independents, which later resulted in the deprivation of reserved seats in the National Assembly.