The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a notice to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday following a petition filed by its founding member, Akbar S Babar, challenging the legitimacy of the party's intra-party polls. The petition, submitted by Babar and other party members, alleges "rigged/fraudulent PTI intra-party elections" and calls on the country's top electoral authority to mandate a fresh round of polls.
After the intra-party elections in Peshawar on December 2, where Barrister Gohar Khan was elected as the new chairman, replacing Imran Khan, Babar contested the results, citing irregularities. Despite the high court's decision acknowledging his and other founding leaders' membership in the party, Babar sought the ECP's intervention as a validated PTI member.
A 5-member commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, conducted a hearing on the petition filed by 14 PTI members challenging the intra-party polls. The petition raised concerns about the absence of a pre-election schedule, undisclosed voter lists, and a lack of activity in the PTI central secretariat related to the elections.
Babar's lawyer asserted during the hearing that the electoral body had directed the polls to be conducted in accordance with the party constitution. He highlighted the absence of a voter list and proper procedures for the intra-party polls, emphasizing that there was no mention of an election program in the party constitution. The lawyer also noted that the party's election commissioner retained the database.
As part of the proceedings, the lawyer presented a video of the intra-party elections to the ECP and submitted it as evidence. The Election Commission subsequently adjourned the hearing until December 12 (Tuesday).
