ECP Reserves Decision on PTI Intra-Party Elections Pending Supreme Court Clarification

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reserved its decision on PTI's request to hold off on intra-party election decisions until the Supreme Court clarifies the matter. PTI representatives argued that Federal Investigation Agency raids hindered their ability to produce required documents.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday reserved its judgment on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf's (PTI) request to keep the intra-party election case pending until the Supreme Court provides further clarification, as reported by The Express Tribune.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Advocate Uzair Bhandari appeared before the commission. During the hearing, Bhandari stated that the Federal Investigation Agency raided their offices and confiscated all records. He added that they lack original documents and electronic records, and suggested that the Federal Investigation Agency could provide them if ordered by the ECP.

Bhandari highlighted that the ECP had questioned PTI's current status. He cited the Supreme Court's short order, which affirmed PTI as a political party. The ECP member from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa noted that the commission had never claimed PTI was not registered. The lawyer emphasized waiting for the Supreme Court's detailed judgment to clarify the matter, indicating that PTI does not accept ECP's current authority without it. Gohar added that 39 lawmakers recognized by the ECP had received party certificates from him, but the ECP member clarified that recognition was based on the Supreme Court's order, not Gohar's signatures.

(With inputs from agencies.)