ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has raised several questions regarding the current “status” of the former ruling party after it lost “its organisational structure on lapsing of 5 years,” indicating that the submission of documents pertaining to intra-party elections by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has apparently not satisfied the top electoral authority.
The election watchdog sent a two-page query to the Imran-founded party after the latter produced documentation about its intra-party elections in an attempt to allay concerns.
The PTI “did not hold intra-party elections within 5 years, in the departure of Section 208(1),” according to the commission’s first inquiry. As a result, after five years, it lost its organizational framework. What is PTI’s current standing as a political party from this angle?
The PTI’s constitution specifies appointments for the former position via its National Council on recommendations from the Chief Executive Committee (CEC), but it also questioned the legitimacy of the party’s chief organizer and federal election commissioner, who were chosen by the General Body.
A political party would be established under the old Election Act, according to the ECP, provided it submitted certificates, together with full records of elected office-bearers, within a week of intra-party votes.
In addition to asking why the former ruling party’s registration should not be delisted and levying a fee for missing scheduled intra-party elections, the ECP questioned the PTI’s existing “status” as a political party.
