Pak poll body refuses to allot 'bat' symbol to PTI

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has barred former cricketer Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) from using the 'bat' as an electoral symbol for upcoming by-elections until the party holds intra-party elections and fulfills its legal requirement.

"The symbol BAT may not be allotted to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf in future election till completion of intra-party elections and fulfillment of legal requirement by the party", Geo News quoted ECP as saying in a latter.

The latest notice has been circulated by the ECP to the offices of provincial election commissions in all four provinces of Pakistan.

The ECP's decision comes as the PTI failed to hold the intra-party elections.

The PTI had conducted intra-party elections last time on March 23, 2013.

The ECP said that it will not assign the 'Bat' symbol to PTI till the political party successfully conducts intra-party elections.

PTI is obliged to hold intra-party elections every four years as per its own constitution.

The ECP had last month, said that PTI was ineligible to be allotted the 'bat' symbol under sections 11 and 12 of the Political Parties Order (PPO) 2002.