ECP Summons PTI Leadership Over Intra-Party Poll Objections

ECP Summons PTI Leadership Over Intra-Party Poll Objections

Dil Bar Irshad | May 25, 2024 | 08:50 AM IST | Pakistan News, Politics, World | Follow on Google News

ECP Summons PTI Leadership Over Intra-Party Poll Objections

ECP Summons PTI Leadership Over Intra-Party Poll Objections

Key Highlights:

1. ECP has raised further objections to PTI’s recent intra-party elections.
2. PTI’s electoral symbol was revoked due to irregularities in December.
3. ECP questions PTI’s compliance with Section 208(1) of the Election Act.

Islamabad [Pakistan], May 25: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has summoned the top leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) following further objections to the recently-held intra-party polls, according to Pakistan-based ARY News. The ECP has issued a notice to the Imran Khan-founded party, summoning PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Raoof Hasan, who served as the election commissioner in the intra-party elections held on May 30.

In the notice, the electoral watchdog seeks PTI’s response to its inquiry into the internal electoral process of the party. The ECP has already sent a questionnaire to PTI, requesting detailed information regarding the intra-party elections. Earlier in May, the ECP raised objections to PTI’s elections, questioning the party’s status after allegedly ‘losing organizational structure’.

On December 22, the ECP revoked PTI’s electoral symbol ‘bat’ due to irregularities in its intra-party polls. The Supreme Court later upheld this order, forcing PTI to field its candidates as independents in the elections held on February 8. Following these general elections, PTI held intra-party elections again on March 3, calling on the ECP to issue a notification. However, the ECP has once again raised objections and sent a two-page questionnaire to PTI.

The ECP has questioned the current “status” of PTI as a political party, noting that it failed to conduct intra-party elections within the required five-year period per Section 208(1) of the Election Act. The ECP stated that PTI lost its organizational structure due to this lapse and questioned the legality of appointments made by the party’s General Body.

The electoral watchdog also cited Section 208(5), which mandates a show-cause notice and potential fines for political parties failing to hold timely intra-party elections. The ECP asked PTI to explain why it should not initiate the delisting process for non-compliance.

According to the ECP, PTI must submit certificates within a week after intra-party polls, along with complete records of elected office-bearers, poll data, and results to be registered under the Election Act. The ECP has requested PTI’s leadership to respond to these observations to proceed further as per the law.

(Inputs from Dawn

Dil Bar Irshad

Dil Bar Irshad is a seasoned journalist, hails from Jammu Kashmir's Doda, covers political, social, business stories, index stories.