The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday declared the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) eligible for participation in the upcoming General Election, allotting the party the 'bat' election symbol following its intra-party polls earlier this week.

The ECP had earlier withheld the allotment of an electoral symbol to the PTI, owing to its inability to hold intra-party elections, which are mandatory prior to allocation of an election symbol.

The PTI, during its two-day intra-party polls, re-elected Imran Khan as chairman and Shah Mahmood Qureshi as vice chairman for another term.

PTI Chief Election Commissioner Azam Swati earlier said the party had held its intra-party election in a hurry to regain its election symbol of 'bat' from the ECP as the 2018 General Election draws nearer.

The PTI Election Commission had re-drafted the party’s constitution and developed software for the intra-party poll that gave registered voters just two choices: panel 1 or 2. Anything written besides 1 or 2 would disqualify the vote.

As per the amended constitution, 2.7 million voters had to decide between Imran Khan or Naik Muhammad Khan.

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