ECP hearing on intra-party elections: PTI chairman defends party attitude.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) recently held a hearing on the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) internal elections.

Before the hearing began, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan told the reporters, “The inter-party election in our party was conducted in accordance with the constitution and the law.”

He stated that the ECP has yet to give a certificate, and that the PTI, the country’s largest party, sent constitutional and legal solutions to the ECP. Barrister Gohar added that the party expects the files confiscated from their office would be restored.

Barrister Gohar, the PTI Chairman, attended the hearing, which was led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. The CEC informed the court that the issue had been pending since April 30, 2024, and PTI had not yet filed a written response.

In response, Barrister Gohar stated that the PTI has responded to the notice and will deliver its response to the petitions at the next hearing. The ECP postponed the hearing till February 11, asking PTI to file its response by then.
He stated again after the hearing, at the same news conference, that PTI is the only party that held intra-party elections and did not provide intra-party election certificates, despite being the world’s sixth largest political party.

Barrister Gohar, Chairman of the PTI, attended the hearing, which was presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. The CEC informed the court that the issue had been pending since April 30, 2024, and PTI had yet to provide a written reply.

Barrister Gohar responded by stating that the PTI has responded to the notice and will deliver their response to the petitions at the next session. The ECP postponed the hearing till February 11, asking PTI to file a reply by then.
He stated again after the hearing, at the same news conference, that the PTI is the only party that held intra-party elections and did not produce intra-party election certificates, despite the fact that the PTI was the world’s sixth largest political party.

Gohar also informed the court that none of the five petitioners challenging PTI intra-party elections had disputed their petitions and that they will respond to the ECP at the next hearing.

He stated that Imran Khan is the PTI’s emblem, and that he has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly requesting the appointment of a new Chief Election Commissioner.

Meanwhile, PTI founder Akbar S Babar attended a news conference and stated that PTI accounts should be frozen till the matter is decided. He stated that the PTI’s organizational structure has no legal existence and is being dominated by infiltrators who have no affiliation with it.

Akbar S Babar further said that a circle of entrenched interests has controlled the PTI, and the decision in the £190 million foreign financing issue has exposed many people to light.