PTI toughens stance against party members contesting independently

Affidavit forbids party members from contesting from an independent platform

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday decided to take action against party members who will contest the upcoming elections from an independent platform.

The move comes a day after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a notice to PTI Chairperson Imran Khan seeking clarification on an affidavit restricting party members.

 

In a statement issued on Monday, PTI said it would take action against those violating party discipline. Citing an affidavit signed by party members promising to not contest elections as an independent candidate if they were not awarded a ticket, the press release said that those retracting from the oath also violated Article 62 and 62 of the Constitution.



The names of those contesting elections independently will be forwarded to a two-member committee comprising Naeemul Haq and Arshad Dad.

“The committee will present a report with details of the members fighting against candidates with party tickets,” it said.

The commission began hearing a petition filed by Mohammad Munir and Rao Waqas Irshad against Imran for seeking oath from PTI members barring them from contesting general elections as independent candidates if the party does not issue them a ticket.