learnedutoday
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reportedly accepted another plea concerning the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) intra-party elections, as revealed by sources on Wednesday. The electoral body appears to be giving what some perceive as ‘special treatment’ to the PTI, issuing a notice regarding alleged irregularities in the intra-party polls conducted on March 3.
Documents related to the intra-party polls were submitted to the ECP by the PTI on March 4, including details of newly-elected party office-bearers, a certificate from the party chief (containing Form 65), names of core committee members, and other relevant records. The PTI, which elected Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Omar Ayub as its chairman and secretary-general on March 3, requires the relevant certificate to qualify for the re-allocation of its electoral symbol “bat” by the ECP. Now, the Political Finance Wing of the ECP has summoned PTI representatives to appear before the electoral body on April 30.
This marks the third instance where the legality of PTI’s internal polls has been called into question by the commission. In November 2023, the ECP annulled PTI’s intra-party polls held in June 2022, giving the party a 20-day ultimatum to conduct fresh elections if it wished to retain its electoral symbol — the bat. The ECP’s decision came at a critical juncture, with general elections looming about two months away and political parties intensifying their election campaigns nationwide. The PTI, already alleging foul play, criticized the ECP ruling as an attempt to sideline former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his party from the electoral process.
Haseeb Abdullah
