The Supreme Court’s reversal of the Peshawar High Court’s striking down of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision invalidating the Pakistan Tehreek Insaf’s intraparty election, has left the PTI, less than two years ago the ruling party, without its iconic ‘bat’ symbol. While this decision will be debated for long, with the ECP’s ability to make such a decision discussed, and the maintainability of the petition before the PHC in the presence of another before the Lahore High Court, the decision will have practical consequences. Symbols have been allotted, even as the ECP extended the deadline until Saturday night, and thus a reversal of the decision will entail issuing a revised list of candidates. That would only happen if a review petition was speedily prepared and filed, and then heard. Though PTI lawyers were heard making defiant noises, they were also preparing for candidate to contest as independents.
Even more than the upholding of the rejection of the nomination papers of PTI chief Imran Khan, this was a fatal blow to the existence of the PTI as a party. It seems the tactics which were used against the PML(N) in 2018, and in favour of the PTI, have been repeated, though it does seem that the PTI is being treated even more scurvily. Beginning with Mr Khan’s ouster, there does not seem to have been as much of an attempt to knock the PTI from the election, as after the May 9 attacks on military installations, which not only led to court cases against leaders, but the shattering of the party due to desertions of leaders, and imprisonment of workers. Perhaps nothing better expresses the plight of the party than the fact that two parties were hived off.
The prospects of the independents who win through to the assemblies show that the attempt to crush the PTI will probably not yield the neat excision desired. Unless they are inveigled by shadowy forces into joining other parties, they will remain a thorn in the side of the government, and are likely to provide a fierce opposition to it. While that may be healthy, it does not provide for the sort of cooperation that will be needed by the country if it is to navigate the economic and geopolitical changes ahead. Without the PTI competing as a party, it is unlikely that the February 8 elections will be memorable for moving forward the development of democracy in the country.
