In an order to maintain the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “bat” symbol, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) declared on Thursday that the party’s internal polls were not transparent. The PTI must now hold new elections.
In a reserved decision released today, the commission has requested that the PTI call new elections within 20 days.
The ECP ruled in the ruling that the PTI had not conducted free and fair elections within the party and that the polls were divisive and offensive.
The ruling said that the PTI’s intra-party elections “cannot be accepted” and ordered it to conduct polls and turn in the results within seven days.
“The PTI will suffer dire repercussions if polls are not held in 20 days. The ruling stated that the [PTI] would not be able to get an electoral symbol if [intra-party] elections were not held.
On August 2, the ECP had sent the PTI notifications for failing to hold intra-party elections, and it had postponed making a decision until September 13.
The PTI will be concerned by today’s decision because the majority of its leaders, including Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pervaiz Elahi, and Chairman Imran Khan, are either in jail or have left the party as a result of the crackdown that was implemented against them following the May 9 riots.
During his media conference outside the ECP building, PTI attorney Barrister Gohar expressed his disappointment with the decision.
Gohar declared, “The Election Commission did not meet the requirements of justice.” Additionally, he claimed that the ECP had a “special purpose” for delaying the verdict’s disclosure.
“The bat emblem will always be with us. Gohar stated, “We will contest this order in the proper venue.
Gohar also stated that he was, is, and always will be the party chief and that no one can “minus” the PTI chairman in an interview with Geo News.
The party’s spokesperson, Gohar, stated, “There is no such disqualification that bars Imran Khan from participating in elections.” He continued by saying that only a disqualified individual is ineligible to run for office under Articles 62 and 63.
According to Gohar, the PTI leader was found guilty in just one instance, and the high court overturned that conviction.
“Chairman PTI is still qualified for all offices; he has not been disqualified.” Barrister Gohar stated, “He can and would contest the election in accordance with Chairman PTI’s directives.
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