ECP reserves verdict on pleas challenging PTI intra-party elections

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday reserved its verdict on a number of petitions challenging intra-party elections of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Pakistan, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

An ECP five-member bench led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja reserved the decision and deferred the hearing until 2:00 pm tomorrow.

The PTI’s intra-party elections resulted in unopposed election of Barrister Gohar Khan as new party chairman, replacing incarcerated Imran Khan.

Monday’s hearing was attended by Babar S Akbar, PTI Chairman Gohar Khan, Barrister Ali Zafar and others.

At the outset of the proceedings, Barrister Ali Zafar emphasised that the tenure for the party’s chairman in office was five years, and the panel’s duration was three years. He stressed that intra-party polls were unnecessary when a chairman was elected unopposed, pointing out that no law provided clarification on the process of intra-party polls.

In response to Zafar’s statement, the chief election commissioner remarked: “Even rallies are being held online nowadays.” The CEC’s remarks elicited laughter in the ECP courtroom.

Zafar pointed out that, given that none of them submitted fees to the party, none of the individuals, except Babar, retained their status as party members. He pointed out that none of the petitioners had submitted an application to the party regarding the casting of votes. “No one filed nomination papers,” he clarified.

Meanwhile, Babar’s counsel, Ahmed Hasan, inquired about the purported show-cause notice issued to Babar and sought a copy of it.

After hearing arguments from all sides, the ECP reserved its verdict on the pleas.

Reporter Usman Khan