The top leadership of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been summoned before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) following a challenge to the party’s elections.
ECP issues issues to PTI top leaders: Pakistan is in the news again with regards to cricketers and politicians Imran KhanLeading Party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) The party has issued a notice to party leaders over the poll agency’s objections against the party in the recently concluded internal polls. Responses to the committee’s questions have been sought from the party, for which questionnaires have already been sent. The committee had questioned the current status of the party earlier this month, saying it had “lost its organisational structure”.
ECP informs Imran Khan-led PTI top leadership
As mentioned earlier, the ECP has issued a notice to the Imran Khan-founded party and summoned PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Raoof Hasan, who served as election commissioner for the party’s internal elections held on May 30. In the notice, the Pakistan Election Watchdog has sought PTI’s response to the commission’s investigation into the party’s internal election process. The ECP has already sent a letter of inquiry to PTI, seeking information regarding PTI’s internal elections.
PTI conducts intra-party opinion poll
On December 22, the ECP stripped the PTI of its election symbol, the bat, citing irregularities in the party polls. The Supreme Court then upheld the election observer’s order, forcing the PTI to field an independent candidate in the February 8 elections. After the general elections, the PTI held another party poll on March 3. The party has now asked the ECP to issue a notice. However, ARY News reported that the election observer has again challenged the recently held party polls and sent a two-page questionnaire to the PTI.
‘PTI has lost its organisational structure’, questions ECP
The ECP questioned the PTI’s current “status” as a political party, noting that the party founded by Imran Khan had not held internal elections within five years as per Article 208(1). “Hence, it has lost its organisational structure at the end of the five years,” the election watchdog said. According to an ARY News report, the ECP also questioned why the party had not initiated the process of deregistering the former ruling party and imposed a penalty for not holding internal elections in a timely manner.
Election watchdogs also questioned the legality of the appointment of PTI’s chief organiser and federal election commissioner by the general assembly, while the PTI constitution stipulates that the appointment of the former post is made through the national council on the recommendation of the chief executive committee (CEC). ARY News reported that the chief executive committee said that political parties need to submit a certificate within a week of the party polls, along with a complete record of elected officials, voting data and results, and they will be registered as per the old law under the Election Act.
“Furthermore, the party has to submit the relevant documents within 60 days as per the Election Act. The Election Commission asked PTI why the delisting process has not been initiated as the documents have not been submitted as per the prescribed law. The Election Commission has asked the PTI leadership to submit its reply to the position paper so that the process can be carried out as per the law.
(Input from ANI)
