PTI gears up for intra-party polls sans Imran

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has initiated preparations for its long-pending intra-party elections, aiming to fulfil the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) directive by completing the process before December 13.

Sources within PTI revealed the decision to kickstart the intra-party election proceedings this week, adhering to the ECP's order.

However, the party's incarcerated chief, Imran Khan, won't participate in the elections due to ongoing legal constraints, making his participation unfeasible.

Barrister Ali Zafar, PTI's parliamentary leader in the Senate, said the ECP had earlier declared the party's intra-party election null and void due to technicalities.

"To avoid any discrepancies with the ECP, another leader may temporarily stand in for the PTI Chairman during this election," he said.

The PTI's intra-party election process has lingered unresolved before the ECP since 2022, despite the electoral body's requirement for political parties to conduct these elections every five years, with flexibility for earlier polls based on their constitutions.

Read also: ECP gives PTI 20-day ultimatum to hold intra-party polls

In August, Imran Khan's non-appearance before the ECP despite a final notice highlighted the party's failure to adhere to this electoral requirement.

The commission had issued warnings, citing potential repercussions under the Elections Act, 2017, that could render the party ineligible for future polls if non-compliance persisted.

Quoting Section 209(1) of the Elections Act, the ECP reiterated that all registered political parties were mandated to furnish the commission with a certificate confirming the completion of their intra-party polls.

Previously slated for June 13, 2021, under PTI's constitutional framework, the intra-party elections faced postponements, drawing a show-cause notice to Imran Khan from the ECP in May 2021 due to the delay.

The ECP granted PTI an extended deadline, shifting the intra-party elections to June 13, 2022. Yet, the party failed to meet this revised timeline, prolonging the unresolved status of its intra-party polls.