The Election Commission (ECP) on Thursday ordered the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold intra-party polls in 20 days and allowed to contest elections with ‘bat’ as symbol.
Announcing its reserved verdict, the ECP declared the PTI intra-party elections null and void.
The ECP had reserved the decision on September 13 after the PTI lawyer submitted reply following the issuance of a show-cause notice to the party. A four-member bench led by Nisar Durrani heard the case.
The ECP had issued a notice to the PTI on August 2 regarding the intra-party elections, asking why it should not be disqualified for not conducting the intra-party elections.
PTI’s lawyer Barrister Gohar said that the intra-party elections were held before the amendment to the party constitution, and later party withdrew the amendments.
In May last year, the ECP issued a show-cause notice to the PTI chief for his failure to hold intra-party elections. It extended the date at the request of the PTI, allowing it to hold intra-party elections by June 13, 2022. However, the former ruling party failed to do so.
The PTI’s intra-party elections were scheduled to be held on June 13, 2021.
