ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is set to examine a plea lodged by PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar against intra-party elections on December 18 (Monday).

A five-member ECP bench will convene to address the challenges and objections raised regarding PTI’s intra-party elections. Key individuals who have submitted applications against PTI’s intra-party polls include Akbar S. Babar, Raja Tahir Nawaz, and Naureen Farooq.

The ECP has summoned PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan, as well as the party’s chief election commissioner Niazullah Niazi, Umar Ayub, Haleem Adil Sheikh, Yasmin Rashid, Ali Amin Gandapur, and RO Central Secretariat Sardar Masroof.

Notices have also been issued to Returning Officer Central Secretariat Sardar Masroof Khan and Returning Officer Ansar Mahmood in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Central Secretariat.

Akbar S. Babar, a founding member of PTI, has criticized the intra-party polls, labeling them as a charade. In a video statement, he expressed concern that PTI’s actions were jeopardizing the party and its election symbol, the ‘bat.’

It’s worth noting that Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was elected uncontested as the party’s new chairman, succeeding the incarcerated former prime minister, Imran Khan. The PTI intra-party polls, mandated by the ECP, took place last Saturday, with voters utilizing an online app to cast their votes.

According to PTI election commissioner Niazullah Niazi, former federal minister Omar Ayub Khan was elected as the party’s secretary-general, while the imprisoned former provincial health minister Yasmin Rashid emerged as the party’s Punjab president.