ECP to Resume PTI Intra-Party Election Probe Amidst Political Turmoil

The Election Commission of Pakistan will resume its investigation into the intra-party elections of PTI on July 23rd. This follows multiple postponements and significant political turmoil, including the annulment of PTI's intra-party elections and subsequent loss of its electoral symbol for upcoming polls.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is set to resume its investigation into the intra-party election of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on July 23, Dawn reported. This follows two postponements since May, with a five-member ECP panel, led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, scheduled to adjudicate the case.

This upcoming session marks the first hearing since PTI's chief election commissioner, Raoof Hasan, submitted a comprehensive response to seven key objections raised by the ECP on March 3 regarding the party's internal election process. PTI's intra-party elections, held nearly four months ago, were the third such exercise in less than two years. The controversy started on June 9, 2022, when PTI conducted its intra-party polls, which were later invalidated by the ECP in November 2023, as per Dawn's reports.

In reaction, the ECP instructed PTI to conduct fresh elections within 20 days if it wished to retain its bat symbol for the upcoming general elections, which were then just two months away, ramping up political campaigns across the country. PTI promptly organised new intra-party elections on December 2, 2023. However, these were annulled by the ECP just 20 days later, following an unprecedented detailed scrutiny of a political party's internal mechanics.

As a result, PTI was barred from using its election symbol in the coming general polls, creating significant political upheaval. This decision was crucial in the Supreme Court's move to deny PTI its election symbol, forcing PTI candidates to contest as independents. Further complicating the situation, PTI conducted yet another round of intra-party elections on March 3, prompting renewed objections from the ECP.

The commission commenced hearings without initially disclosing the specifics of its objections, eventually sharing a questionnaire with PTI's legal team seeking detailed information about the intra-party election process. PTI promptly responded comprehensively to these queries, Dawn reported.

(With inputs from agencies.)