The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) may be declared ineligible to get the election symbol if it fails to hold intra-party polls, the Election Commission of Pakistan warned on Wednesday.

According to 24NewsHD TV channel, the commission issued a notice and summoned the PTI chairman to appear on August 4 (Friday) at 10 am.

It added if the PTI chief fails to appear, the commission “under Section 215 (5) of the Elections Act, 2017, may declare your political party ineligible to obtain election symbol for future election(s)”.

Referring to its earlier notices, the ECP said the PTI’s intra-party polls were due on June 13 in 2021 as per its constitution.

It added the PTI was “intimated/reminded to conduct intra-party elections within the timeframe provided under sections 208, 209 and 215 of the 'Elections Act,2017 but the party failed to “provide the requisite certificate to this effect”.

The polls organising authority also said it issued final notice to the PTI in May last year for ensuring the conduct of intra-party elections “on or before 13.06.2022 (extended date), with the observation that no further extension shall be allowed”.

Subsequently, the notice PTI submitted a copy of the amended party’s constitution which was deemed “insufficient” by the electoral body.

The ECP referred to Section 209(1) of the Election Act saying every registered political party is bound to provide the ECP with a certificate regarding the conduct of the intra-party elections as provided by law.

Last month, the ECP instructed political parties to submit their applications for the allotment of elections symbols ahead of general polls in the country scheduled for later this year.

The ECP directed the parties to attach a list of symbols they prioritise along with their applications, adding that the signature of the party leader is a must.

"Every application must include the address of the head office of the political party," the election commission said.

In 2018, the PTI was allotted a ‘bat’ symbol to contest the general elections.