PTI to hold intra-party polls on Feb 5

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has formally unveiled the official timetable for its intra-party elections, which are scheduled to be held on Feb 5 (Monday) – three days ahead of the general elections.

In an official statement issued on Thursday, the PTI Federal Election Commission expressed its satisfaction in disclosing the election schedule for the intra-party elections of PTI, designed to elect the chairman, central, and provincial organisations.

As per the PTI announcement, individuals who have been party members up to Jan 31 shall be entitled to cast their votes for their favoured panel or chairman candidate at specified locations throughout Pakistan. Additionally, the party members can exercise their voting rights through the 'Raabta Application Intra-Party Election Module'.

The comprehensive details concerning all participating panels in the intra-party election, as well as the intricate election procedure, are elucidated in the Election Rules, 2020.

These rules will be made accessible on the party's official website and the Raabta application.

The polling period is scheduled to commence at 10am and conclude at 4pm. The specific election venues and the appellate tribunal's date will be disclosed before the intra-party elections.

Further, the PTI has announced that nomination papers for prospective candidates can be obtained from the PTI Central Secretariat or the official website between Feb 1 and 2, 2024. The final date for the submission of nomination papers is set for Feb 2, 2024, until 10pm. Candidates have the option to submit their nomination papers physically at central and provincial secretariats or digitally via email.

The scrutiny of the nomination papers for intra-party election candidates is slated for Feb 3, 2024. In the event of paper rejection, the period for submitting objections extends until Feb 3, 2024, at 10pm.

A detailed list encompassing all final panels partaking in the intra-party election will be disseminated on the official website at 4pm on Feb 4.

The official proclamation of the intra-party election results is earmarked for Tuesday, Feb 6, 2024.

The move to practice the exercise again comes as the Supreme Court on Jan 13 upheld the Dec 22 decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan of declaring the intra-party elections held on Dec 2 null and void, depriving the party of the bat as its election symbol.

The party had moved the Peshawar High Court which through an interim order on Dec 26 suspended the ECP ruling.

However, the decision was challenged by the electoral body and the high court reversed its ruling on Jan 3.