<\/p>\n
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued a notice to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in response to pleas against the party\u2019s intra-party elections, alleging they were \u201crigged and fraudulent\u201d.<\/p>\n
The ECP issued a notice to the party in response to the recent plea<\/a> filed by estranged PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar. Last week, Babar approached the commission, challenging the conduct of intra-party elections that resulted in Barrister Gohar Khan replacing Imran Khan as PTI chairman.<\/p>\n Gohar was elected as the new party chairman after being nominated by Imran for the intra-party election, conducted on Dec 2 on an ECP directive.<\/p>\n However, the party was on the receiving end of sharp criticism over the polls as Babar announced that he would challenge the entire process in a court of law. He had alleged that the PTI had carried out a selection process aimed at throwing out party workers to give the reins to a few lawyers.<\/p>\n Separately, the leaders of the country\u2019s mainstream parties, including the PML-N and PPP, also questioned the legitimacy of the intra-party elections.<\/p>\n The same day, Babar penned a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja. He had said that after the commission directed the party to hold the polls, the PTI core committee issued a press release saying that preparations were complete and announced Niazullah Niazi as the PTI CEC.<\/p>\n As the proceedings of the case commenced at the ECP today, Babar, along with his lawyer, appeared before the commission and said that the party had not provided any schedule for the polls.<\/p>\n \u201cThe constitution and the law are very clear about it; hence, I\u2019ve appeared here,\u201d emphasised Babar.<\/p>\n Babar\u2019s lawyer, Syed Ahmed Hasan, highlighted that the ECP had ordered intra-party polls in accordance with the party\u2019s constitution. However, he pointed out the absence of a voter list and a nomination mechanism, stating, \u201cThe party\u2019s constitution makes no mention of an election programme.\u201d<\/p>\n In response, an ECP member sought a clarification on it. Hasan stated, \u201cThe party\u2019s election commissioner has been keeping access to the database of the party with him.\u201d<\/p>\n He said the ECP had directed that the polls be re-commenced and the PTI conducted elections within two days of the order without fulfilling requirements.<\/p>\n \u201cA man was made chairman behind closed doors,\u201d the petitioner\u2019s counsel argued.<\/p>\n He said neither any scrutiny was conducted nor any paperwork was done as well as no list of final candidates was displayed.<\/p>\n \u201cHasn\u2019t your membership [of the party] ended,\u201d asked ECP member.<\/p>\n Babar\u2019s lawyer said it had not yet ended, adding that a court\u2019s decision was available in this regard.<\/p>\n He said his client was barred from garnering nomination papers before the intra-party polls.<\/p>\n An ECP member sought a clarification from the counsel, asking \u201care you challenging the intra-party polls or the PTI\u2019s constitution.\u201d<\/p>\n The lawyer said PTI\u2019s polls were not transparent.<\/p>\n An ECP member asked whether Babar had attempted to obtain nomination papers.<\/p>\n Babar\u2019s lawyer responded, stating, \u201cWe went to the party\u2019s office and submitted video evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n The commission, intrigued by the claim, requested videographic proof mentioned by the petitioner. Subsequently, the video was screened during the hearing. When an ECP member asked about the location shown in the footage, Babar\u2019s counsel clarified that it was the PTI\u2019s office situated in Islamabad\u2019s G-8 sector.<\/p>\n Furthermore, he asserted that the ECP could conduct forensic analysis of the video if deemed necessary.<\/p>\n Babar\u2019s counsel implored the commission to declare the PTI\u2019s polls null and void and to mandate a fresh conduct of the elections.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have also provided video evidence regarding the party\u2019s polls.\u201d<\/p>\n However, an ECP member remarked: \u201cThe law does not say that we order polls again and again.\u201d<\/p>\n A lawyer representing a citizen, Raja Tahir Nawaz, who separately contested the PTI\u2019s intra-party polls, also appeared before the commission.<\/p>\n He underlined that every individual should be afforded an opportunity to participate in intra-party polls according to the party\u2019s constitution. The lawyer argued that individuals in custody and those in hiding were being elected to party positions.<\/p>\n He contended that the entire electoral process was conducted improperly and called for the polls to be declared null and void. He also urged the ECP to take decisive action on the matter and barred the party from allegedly falling into the hands of controversial figures.<\/p>\n However, an ECP member from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa insisted that elections could not be conducted multiple times, emphasising that they were bound to occur only once.<\/p>\n After the hearing, the ECP issued a notice to the PTI, seeking its response to the objections raised in the pleas.<\/p>\n The hearing was adjourned until Dec 12.<\/p>\n Following the hearing, a small group of protesters gathered outside of the ECP office in Islamabad. Brandishing placards bearing slogans calling for a redo of the PTI\u2019s intra-party polls, the demonstrators were met by police who prevented them from entering through the main gate.<\/p>\n The protesters voiced their discontent through chants, proclaiming messages such as \u201cfake elections are unacceptable, re-elections must be held.\u201d<\/p>\nThe hearing<\/h2>\n
Small protest outside ECP office<\/h2>\n
Plea against intra-party polls<\/h2>\n