ECP warns PTI over lack of intra-party polls

ECP says party may not be allotted symbol for elections

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday served a final notice to the PTI for its failure to hold intra-party elections and summoned its chairman, former premier Imran Khan, on August 4 (Friday) for an explanation.

The ECP warned Imran that if he failed to appear before the commission, it might -- under Section 215 (5) of the Elections Act, 2017 -- declare his party ineligible to obtain an election symbol for future elections.

Referring to Section 209(1) of the Election Act, the ECP pointed out that every registered political party was bound to provide the commission with a certificate about the holding of its intra-party polls.

The PTI’s intra-party elections were scheduled to be held on June 13 in 2021 under the party’s constitution.

In May last year, the commission issued a show-cause notice to Imran for his failure to hold intra-party elections of the PTI in his capacity as its chairman.

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The ECP extended the date on the request of the PTI and allowed it to conduct its intra-party elections by June 13, 2022.

However, the PTI failed to hold its intra-party polls even by the new date.

“The intra-party elections of your party are due since 13.06.2021 and despite availing extension of one year w.e.f. 13.06.2021 to 13.06.2022, your party has failed to conduct intra party elections under the party’s constitution till date,” the notice added.

The commission has sent copies of the notice to the PTI chief at his Zaman Park Lahore and Bani Gala Islamabad residences.

The commission also again deferred the indictment of the PTI chairman in a contempt case.

The commission is expected to frame charges against Imran at the next hearing of the case on August 22.

Last year, the ECP had initiated contempt proceedings against the PTI chief, his fellow party man Asad Umar, and former close aide Fawad Chaudhry for issuing statements against the electoral body and the chief election commissioner.

The three challenged the ECP notices and contempt proceedings in various high courts.

However, in January this year, the Supreme Court allowed the commission to continue the contempt proceedings against Imran, Umar and Fawad.

On Wednesday, a four-member ECP bench, led by Sindh’s Nisar Durrani, heard the case.

Lawyer Shoaib Shaheen, representing Imran, filed an application seeking exemption from personal appearance on his client’s behalf.

ECP K-P member Justice (retd) Ikramullah Khan inquired how Imran could skip the hearing in which he was supposed to be indicted.

He added that how could the bench accept the PTI chairman’s exemption plea.

The lawyer replied that the charges against his client had not been proven yet.

Umar, who attended the proceedings, said the schedule for the general elections would be issued by around August 22 and what impression would be created if a political party was engaged in hearings during this period.

Durrani, the head of the bench, remarked that the matter could have been wrapped up in a month but the ECP was dealing with political cases for a year.

He pointed out that the parties had obtained stay orders from the courts and submitted exemption pleas to the commission -- causing the delay.

Durrani added that the political parties should think about how their actions were affecting the country’s institutions.

He further observed that politicians had to run the country and that was why they should consider this aspect.