ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) On Monday withheld its decision on petitions contesting the intra-party elections of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) following arguments presented by all concerned parties.
Akbar S. Babar, a disenchanted co-founder of the PTI, along with 13 others, has urged the commission to nullify the results of the PTI’s intra-party polls.
A five-member bench, led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, presided over multiple petitions seeking the annulment of the recently conducted intra-party elections within the PTI.
PTI’s legal representative, Barrister Ali Zafar asserted during the hearing that the ECP had mandated the party to conduct intra-party polls within 20 days, and accordingly, the elections were held in accordance with the party’s 2019 constitution.
Zafar argued that unopposed elections are not illegal, citing examples from general elections. He emphasized that neither the Elections Act nor the party constitution specifies the method for intra-party elections, and conducting such elections is not prohibited.
Additionally, Barrister Ali Zafar pointed out that, according to ECP’s directives, a non-party member lacks the standing to challenge the commission’s decisions. He noted that a party has the authority to expel any member, and if the member wishes to contest this, they can approach the trial court.
When asked if the decision to hold the elections unopposed had been predetermined, the PTI lawyer refuted such claims, highlighting that information about the party elections was disseminated through various newspapers and press conferences, with details about the procedure and venue being announced on December 2.
The petitioners, including Akbar S. Babar, urged for a prompt re-poll after declaring the recent intra-party exercise null and void.
Another petitioner’s legal representative characterized the process as a “selection” rather than an election, asserting that there was no evidence of his client being expelled from the party.
Following the arguments from all parties involved, the ECP reserved its decision on the outcome of the PTI’s intra-party elections.
