Imran dissolves PTI’s election tribunal

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has issued a notification for the dissolution of the party’s election tribunal, headed by Justice (R) Wajihuddin Ahmad, saying that the forum was hampering work of the party in these critical times.
“An election tribunal was constituted to look into irregularities committed in some places dining the intra-party elections. After necessary deliberations the tribunal announced its decision on October 17, 2014. Once the decision was announced the tribunal effectively ceased to exist and its members became functus officio with no further powers as the tribunal was constituted for a specific purpose,” said the notification issued by Imran, carrying his signatures, a copy of which is with The News.
Imran said in the notification, “However, even after the tribunal had become defunct it kept on sending certain recommendations in terms that were imperative. Instead of ignoring these it was decided on 22.03.2015 to give effect to those that were compatible with interests of the party.”
“Following the core committee meeting on 22.03.2015 I, as the Chairman made a public statement that the tribunal stood dissolved. However, it appears that despite this statement the tribunal has continued to issue notices and pronounce orders. This is hampering work of the party in these critical times.
The PTI chairman said in the notification, “I, therefore in exercise of my powers as the Chairman of the Party hereby formally notify that the Election Tribunal constituted on 12.03.2013 stands dissolved with effect from 22.03.2015. This is in confirmation of my earlier public statement”.
Challenging its dissolution, the tribunal had summoned Imran on April 21 who had urged for appearing before it on April 19 instead. However, staying for at least two days in Karachi, he preferred not to turn up before the tribunal. And then, three days later, issued a notification to pack the forum up.
The tribunal had displeased the PTI chief when it issued a show-cause notice to the nominated Secretary General Jehangir Tareen for interfering in the working of the tribunal. Imran’s request for its withdrawal was not entertained.
The tribunal’s main order issued on October 17, 2014, had noted that massive irregularities were committed in the PTI’s intra-party elections, therefore, the term of office of the elected office-bearers and bodies were reduced from full four-year term to two years and ordering fresh party polls by March 18, 2015. The tribunal had dissolved all bodies and sent office-bearers home, barring the party chairman. However, Imran had revived all the bodies and office-bearers a few days later, only to be dissolved by the tribunal.
Justice Wajih tribunal rejected Imran notification to dissolve the election tribunal.
The tribunal revealed: “Chairman wanted that either the tribunal should travel to Islamabad for dispensing justice at the door steps or hear him through video conferencing. The tribunal did not oblige.”
The tribunal wondered, “Have we ourselves changed rather than changing Pakistan for the better. Just as General Mush truncated the SC on a day when Indians were celebrating Republic Day, IK disbanded intra party tribunal on PTI commencement day.”
About the party’s drubbing in Karachi and performance, the tribunal blamed NA-246 pathetic loss and poor performance in Cantt board elections on failure to uphold merit in award of tickets because neutral caretakers were not appointed as directed by the tribunal. In the end, the tribunal noted that the tribunal was dissolved as vested interests were hit.