The Election Commission of Pakistan has warned the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that it was at risk of losing its eligibility for its preferred electoral symbol (Bat) in future elections unless it can comprehensively satisfy that it held intra-party elections to elect office bearers over the past two years.
This has emerged in a letter sent by Election Commission of Pakistan's Law Deputy Director Saima Tariq Janjuha to former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday.
The letter, dispatched to Imran's mansion in Islamabad, noted that the electoral body had served the PTI a show cause notice in July 2021 for failing to conduct intra-party elections.
These elections, which are mandatory for each party but are conducted as per the Constitution of each party, were due by June 13, 2021, prompting the issuance of the show cause notice.
In response, the PTI submitted an application on August 24, 2021, seeking an extension for a year in holding the polls.
The ECP said it issued several reminders to the party during this period to complete intra-party elections and submit the requisite certificate (Form 65). The ECP said that the party was repeatedly reminded that no extension would be granted to the PTI in conducting elections.
Days after the deadline expired, ECP said PTI's Chief Election Commissioner, Jamal Akbar Ansari, submitted a new constitution of the party -- with an amended Article V -- along with a certificate of intra-party elections and relevant documents with the commission.
However, the commission said that the documents were found incomplete upon scrutiny, and the party was asked to address the deficiencies and resubmit them.
The PTI again submitted documents of intra-party elections, including Form-65, notification of the elected office bearers, and resolution of the National Council on July 7, 2022.
But when they were scrutinized in light of the amended Constitution, ECP said these documents, too, were found deficient and were sent back to the PTI for rectification on August 4, 2022.
A hearing at the commission took up the matter on March 28, 2023; Ansari, along with PTI's representative Barrister Gohar Ali, conveyed the party's decision to withdraw the amendment in the party constitution and its impact on the intra-party elections. This effectively rendered the intra-party elections null and void.
"The intra-party elections of your party are due since June 13, 2021, and despite availing an extension of one year with effect from June 13, 2021, to June 13, 2022, your party has failed to conduct intra-party elections under the party's Constitution till date," the ECP letter said.
The ECP said that the Elections Act 2017 mandates that all parties elect their office bearers periodically per the Constitution of each respective party and "provide this Commission a Certificate regarding the conduct of the said Intra Party Elections as provided by law."
"Under section 215 of the Act ibid, if any political party fails to comply with the provisions of the said section 209, this Commission is empowered to declare the said political party ineligible to obtain an election symbol," the letter warned.
The ECP summoned the PTI chief to appear before it on Friday, August 4, 2023, and explain the issue.
A response from the PTI on the matter was still awaited until the filing of this report and will be updated as soon as it is received.
This has emerged in a letter sent by Election Commission of Pakistan's Law Deputy Director Saima Tariq Janjuha to former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday.
The letter, dispatched to Imran's mansion in Islamabad, noted that the electoral body had served the PTI a show cause notice in July 2021 for failing to conduct intra-party elections.
These elections, which are mandatory for each party but are conducted as per the Constitution of each party, were due by June 13, 2021, prompting the issuance of the show cause notice.
In response, the PTI submitted an application on August 24, 2021, seeking an extension for a year in holding the polls.
The ECP said it issued several reminders to the party during this period to complete intra-party elections and submit the requisite certificate (Form 65). The ECP said that the party was repeatedly reminded that no extension would be granted to the PTI in conducting elections.
Days after the deadline expired, ECP said PTI's Chief Election Commissioner, Jamal Akbar Ansari, submitted a new constitution of the party -- with an amended Article V -- along with a certificate of intra-party elections and relevant documents with the commission.
However, the commission said that the documents were found incomplete upon scrutiny, and the party was asked to address the deficiencies and resubmit them.
The PTI again submitted documents of intra-party elections, including Form-65, notification of the elected office bearers, and resolution of the National Council on July 7, 2022.
But when they were scrutinized in light of the amended Constitution, ECP said these documents, too, were found deficient and were sent back to the PTI for rectification on August 4, 2022.
A hearing at the commission took up the matter on March 28, 2023; Ansari, along with PTI's representative Barrister Gohar Ali, conveyed the party's decision to withdraw the amendment in the party constitution and its impact on the intra-party elections. This effectively rendered the intra-party elections null and void.
"The intra-party elections of your party are due since June 13, 2021, and despite availing an extension of one year with effect from June 13, 2021, to June 13, 2022, your party has failed to conduct intra-party elections under the party's Constitution till date," the ECP letter said.
The ECP said that the Elections Act 2017 mandates that all parties elect their office bearers periodically per the Constitution of each respective party and "provide this Commission a Certificate regarding the conduct of the said Intra Party Elections as provided by law."
"Under section 215 of the Act ibid, if any political party fails to comply with the provisions of the said section 209, this Commission is empowered to declare the said political party ineligible to obtain an election symbol," the letter warned.
The ECP summoned the PTI chief to appear before it on Friday, August 4, 2023, and explain the issue.
A response from the PTI on the matter was still awaited until the filing of this report and will be updated as soon as it is received.