PTI Considers “Merging” with Sunni Ittehad Council if Electoral Symbol Restored

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser has announced that the party is open to the idea of “merging” with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) if the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) validates their recent internal elections and restores their electoral symbol of the ‘bat’, according to a report by Dawn.

In an exclusive interview with the media outlet, Qaiser emphasized that this decision was made after thorough deliberation within the PTI, considering the limited options available. He clarified that PTI-endorsed candidates joining the SIC would not only maintain their affiliation but also merge with the council.

Qaiser stated that in the event of the PTI reclaiming its electoral symbol, both entities would amalgamate while retaining the PTI identity, contrary to the current scenario where PTI candidates operate under the SIC banner. He also mentioned ongoing consultations with legal experts to ensure the legality of such a merger.

Furthermore, Qaiser expressed the PTI’s intention to challenge the Peshawar High Court’s ruling upholding the ECP’s decision to withhold reserved seats for the SIC in the Supreme Court. This legal battle stems from the Supreme Court’s earlier decision in January, setting aside the PHC order that reinstated the “bat” as the PTI’s electoral symbol for the upcoming general elections.

The PTI’s efforts to contest elections using the PTI-Nazriati splinter group’s symbol, the batsman, also faced obstacles after the latter reneged on an agreement that would have allowed PTI candidates to stand in the elections with their symbol, as reported by Dawn.