ECP examines founding chairman’s powers to run PTI

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) raised questions about the role of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) founding chairman in managing the party’s internal affairs, as it resumed hearing the PTI intra-party elections case on Tuesday.

A three-member commission bench, headed by Sindh Member Nisar Ahmad Durrani, conducted hearing in the case here at the Election Commission Secretariat. PTI’s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, petitioners Akbar S. Babar and others appeared before the forum.

During the hearing, the Election Commissioner Member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa raised questions regarding the running of t he party’s internal affairs. He wanted to know if the decisions of the founding chairman were announced through the media. “Is there any mention of the founding chairman and his role defined in the party constitution, if not, then how does he make decisions,” he wondered. The ECP member noted that the name of Salman Akram Raja frequently comes up in the media and asked about his role in decision making, saying the PTI intra-party elections were controversial. In his response, Barrister Gohar maintained that they are only running matters under indoor management and when the Election Commission issues the certificate, the issues will be streamlined

Earlier, PTI’s founding member and ex-information secretary Akbar S Babar pointed out that while there was an organizational structure of the party, how the party funds were being managed. He reminded the Election Commission had informed the Supreme Court on the issue of reserved seats that the party’s organizational structure was illegal. About Babar’s point of running the PTI’s financial matters, the bench noted that a separate hearing was being conducted on the subject and this issue should be raised there. Babar insisted on the bench to allow arguments and then reserve verdict. However, the ECP forum emphasized that in the presence of a restraining order from the Lahore High Court, they could not announce a decision but could only hold a hearing and conduct arguments. The bench informed him that the next hearing would take place on April 8.

Talking to the media, Babar expressed concern over the organizational set-up in PTI and remarked, “party positions have been created on whims, and funds are being distributed. How can a self-created Secretary General run the affairs of the party.” Expressing fear that the PTI was being herded towards being delisted, he warned the intra-party polls are its last lifeline. How could the party poll be described as democratic and transparent when only 940 out of 950,000 registered voters exercised their vote in the party election on March 4th last. He charged that a dictatorship is ruling the PTI and lamented that everyone joined hands in the parliament for an increase in their salaries.

Later, Gohar regretted that despite the passage of one year after holding party elections, the ECP has not issued them a certificate and termed it a failure to fulfill its constitutional responsibility. He alleged that the Election Commission stopped the orders for reserved seats, whereas the Supreme Court gave an order in their favour. Against this backdrop, the Election Commission should issue a notification about the intra-party polls.