AJK High Court orders ECP to register PTI

MUZAFFARABAD: The High Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Tuesday ruled in favor of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)  and directed the Election Commission of AJK to register the party before the general election 2026.

Earlier, in August, PTI AJK filed a petition at the High Court against the refusal by the election authority to register the political party.

The Election Commission refused to register the party because it had violated Rule 121 of the Election Rules concerning the financial affairs of the party.

The full bench, consisting of Acting Chief Justice Shahid Bahar, Justice Ejaz Khan, and Justice Khalid Rasheed, decided that the party would be registered along with the allocation of its traditional electoral symbol, bat.

As a result of the ruling by the High Court, PTI candidates would be allowed to participate in the polls through the party’s symbol.

Earlier, in a press statement, a spokesman from the Election Commission said that PTI AJK had applied for registration in view of the Supreme Court decision and applicable electoral laws.

“Upon detailed examination of the cases of both parties and the existing documents, the Election Commission has found that the applicant party has not fulfilled the requirements of Rule 121,” the statement further added.

The Election Commission said that after consideration, it rejected the application for registration of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf because of the breach of the rules and the failure to fulfill legal requirements regarding the accounts.

“The Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir would like to make it clear that registration and monitoring of all political parties is done under the Constitution and the law equally and transparently,” it concluded.