ECP to resume hearing on PTI intra-party polls case on 11th

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday issued a cause list for the resumption of the hearing on February 11 in the intra-party elections case of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which had pledged to submit the required documents.

According to the cause list, notices have been issued to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, party’s Federal Election Commissioner Raoof Hasan, and the petitioners, including former PTI information secretary Akbar S. Babar.

During the previous hearing on January 21, Barrister Gohar had requested additional time to submit documents related to the party elections held on March 3 last year. In response, the three-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, reminded him that the case had been pending since April 20, 2024, and that the party had yet to submit the required documents or respond to five other petitioners.

In reply, Gohar assured the commission that he would comply before the next hearing. Speaking to the media outside the ECP, he claimed that a certificate would soon be issued to the PTI, allowing the party to reclaim its election symbol. He maintained that the PTI was the only party awaiting ECP certification despite conducting intra-party polls.

In its questionnaire, the election commission also enquired about PTI’s organisational structure and status after losing its election symbol and failing to conduct intra-party elections in accordance with its constitution and legal requirements.

The PTI had submitted a detailed response to the ECP’s seven queries, but the commission requested further details. In its reply, the party’s Federal Election Commissioner argued that neither the Elections Act, 2017, nor the Election Rules, 2017, contain any provision stating that a registered party loses its organisational structure upon the expiry of a five-year electoral term.

Following the last hearing, Akbar S. Babar told the media that he had suggested the ECP freeze PTI’s accounts until the case was resolved. He asserted that the party’s organisational structure lacked legal status and alleged that it was currently controlled by “infiltrators and outsiders.” He claimed that the £190 million case had exposed PTI’s internal weaknesses. Babar questioned under what legal authority these individuals were utilising PTI’s accounts and resources, alleging that reports indicated Rs1 billion had been distributed among lawyers.