Failure to hold intra-party polls: ECP delists 13 political parties

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Friday delisted 13 political parties for not holding intra-party elections and allowed two political parties to contest the elections.

A five-member bench of the commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, announced the reserved judgment on the intra-party elections of 15 political parties.

The commission has allotted the election symbol to Pakistan Muslim League Jinnah, while Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Noorani was allowed to contest the elections after addressing the objections.

Likewise, PML-J got the nod after its request after delay of one and a half months in holding the intra-party polls was condoned.

However, All Pakistan Minority Alliance, All Pakistan Tehreek, Awami Party Pakistan and Bahawalpur National Awami Party, Sabka Pakistan, National Peace Council Party, Pakistan National Muslim League and Pakistan Aman Party, Pakistan Barabari Party, Christian Awami Party, Pakistan National Solidarity Party, Sunni Tehreek and Nizam e Mustafa Party were delisted for not holding the intra-party polls.

“…and scanning of record of all the political parties, the commission holds and decides that all the above political parties have shown non-serious attitude and failed to comply with the mandatory requirements of Sections 208, 209 and 210 of the Elections Act, 2017. Despite issuance of several reminders, notices, hearings and show cause notices by the Commission which are the pre-requisites for enlistment of a political party in terms of section 202 of the Act, therefore the Commission in exercise of powers conferred upon it under Article 21 8(3) read with section 202(5), 215 of the Act ibid cancel the enlistment of all the political parties... The office is directed to take follow up action accordingly,” the order says.