SWABI, Sept 11: The Swabi Qaumi Mahaz has formally applied to the Election Commission of Pakistan to grant it an election symbol for the general elections, following a decision by the Peshawar High Court on Tuesday, ordering its registration as a political party, said party leaders on Wednesday.

A two-member bench of the High Court, setting aside an order of the EC, ordered the registration of SQM as a political party.

The bench comprised Justice Khalida Rachied and Justice Shahzad Akbar.

The Chief Election Commissioner had, earlier, rejected the application of SQM to grant it a political party status, saying it could not fulfil the legal requirements.

However, SQM general secretary Liaquat Yousafzai filed a writ petition in the High Court. Abdul Latif Afridi, counsel for the petitioner, told the court that the SQM had regularly held intra-party elections and there was no justification to disqualify it from contesting the elections.