PTI given until Oct 2 to submit polls papers

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday gave the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) until October 2 to submit documents related to its intra-party election case, with a warning that if their elections were not accepted, the PTI would be left without an organizational structure.

A three-member bench, led by its Sindh Member Nisar Durrani, heard the case. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan appeared before the ECP bench and explained that the documents were currently with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

During the hearing, ECP Balochistan Member raised the query whether the PTI elections had taken place in Chamkani, to which Barrister Gohar replied in the negative.

He said that the intra-party elections were held in Islamabad.

He sought a week to 10 days' time to submit the necessary documents to the ECP.

The ECP asked what if the ECP did not recognise the PTI's intra-party election. In that case, an ECP director general said that the party would not have any organisational structure. Action could be taken under the Election Act, the ECP warned.

Barrister Gohar said that he would support the ECP in the matter. The commission adjourned the hearing till October 2.

Speaking to the media later, Barrister Gohar said that the documents were now with the FIA. He hoped that the reserved seats issue would be decided soon.

Also during the hearing, a petitioner, Naveed Anjum, appeared before the ECP against the rejection of his nomination papers in election for the post of the PTI chairman. The commission directed him to submit an application which would be heard in the next hearing.

Separately, another three-member bench, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the matter of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F)'s intra-party elections.

The bench reserved its ruling on the JUI-F's request, soliciting 60 days' time.

The CEC said that if the intra-party elections were not held, the party's election symbol could be revoked, and the party might also face de-notification. JUI-F lawyer told the bench that the party's Nazims had been elected and the process of the provincial-level elections had started.