No election participation if intra-party polls not conducted: ECP

103 parties have not conducted intra-party elections, 91 parties have failed to declare assets.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan has instructed 103 political parties to conduct intra-party elections. Any party which fails to do so will not be able to participate in general elections, reported Express News.

One hundred and three parties including  Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Awami National Party (ANP), Qaumi Watan Party, Balochistan National Party (BNP), Tahirul Qadri's party Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), Hazara Democratic Party (HDP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan(JUP) which is an ally of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) and other, have not submitted details about their intra-party elections. ECP warned that these parties will neither be allowed to participate in elections nor will they be allotted an election symbol.

The election commission further said, 91 parties still haven’t submitted details about their accounts, including MQI. These parties need to declare their assets as soon as possible in order to participate in upcoming general elections.

On Saturday, according to sources, the commission, in its bill pending with the Senate Standing Committee on Election Reforms, had proposed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the National Accountability Bureau collaborate with it in the scrutiny process to weed out loan defaulters, tax evaders and those with bogus educational qualifications.

ECP is taking rigorous steps to conduct free and fair elections. Conducting intra-party elections has become mandatory for candidates hoping to participate in general elections.