Lahore High Court Forms Larger Bench on Petition Regarding Return of PTI’s Electoral Symbol Bat

LAHORE (Daily Qudrat): The Lahore High Court has formed a larger bench regarding the return of PTI’s electoral symbol, the bat, and the constitutional status of Section 215 of the Elections Act.

The larger bench will be headed by Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh, while Justice Malik Waqar Haider Awan and Justice Malik Javed Iqbal Wains will also be part of the bench.

The petition has challenged the constitutional status of Section 215 of the Elections Act 2017, terming it contrary to Article 17 of the Constitution. The petition took the position that depriving a political party of its electoral symbol is tantamount to severely affecting its political existence, electoral participation and democratic rights.

The petition said that Article 17 of the Constitution provides citizens the fundamental right to form and join a political party, and a constitutional review of such legal restrictions that affect the fundamental rights of a political party is necessary.

This case was scheduled for hearing on 12 November 2026, and a larger bench has been formed for the hearing of the petition.