Election Commission of Pakistan Reserves Decision on PTI’s Intra-Party Election Case

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reserved its decision on the requests of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) to keep the intra-party election case pending until the Supreme Court clarifies the matter.

On July 23, the ECP had given time to the PTI, founded by Imran Khan, to submit documents regarding its intra-party polls. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Advocate Uzair Bhandari appeared before the commission.

During the hearing, Bhandari stated that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) raided their offices and took all the records. He mentioned that they did not have original documents and electronic records, which could be obtained from the FIA if the ECP ordered.

Bhandari also noted that the ECP had sent a questionnaire to PTI, asking about the current status of the party. He said that the Supreme Court had declared that PTI was and is a political party. An ECP member from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa clarified that the ECP had never said PTI was not a registered political party.

The ECP is seeking clarification from the Supreme Court regarding the reserved seats, stating that PTI had no administrative structure. The ECP member told the lawyer that the electoral watchdog had not moved the Supreme Court on the matter of PTI’s intra-party polls but had requested clarification on whose certificate would be recognized for the distribution of reserved seats to PTI.

Gohar mentioned that 39 lawmakers recognized by the ECP as PTI members were issued party certificates by him. However, the ECP member clarified that these members were recognized on the orders of the Supreme Court, not due to Gohar’s signature.

Bhandari requested the ECP not to hear the case further until the Supreme Court releases its detailed judgment.