Election Commission of Pakistan questions PTI's internal elections

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has once again cast doubt on the intra-party elections of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held on March 3. Alleged irregularities prompted the ECP to issue a notice to PTI, summoning its representatives to appear before the commission on April 30. This is the third time the ECP has expressed concerns about PTI's internal elections.

PTI submitted documents related to the polls on March 4, including details of newly-elected office-bearers and a certificate from the party chief. The party needs this certificate to qualify for its electoral symbol 'bat.' Despite conducting fresh polls after being ousted from the election race due to unlawful intra-party polls, PTI's recent elections face challenges from founding member Akbar S Babar.

According to the Election Act (2017), all registered political parties in Pakistan must hold intra-party elections as per their constitution within a specific timeframe. PTI, which missed its deadline citing the COVID-19 pandemic, faces the risk of losing its electoral symbol if it fails to address ECP's concerns.

The ECP has rejected PTI's previous intra-party elections for not complying with the party's constitution. Despite multiple attempts to rectify the situation, PTI's electoral symbol remains at stake. The party must address the ECP's objections to ensure a smooth continuation of its political activities.