PTI's intra-party election: PHC stops ECP from deciding notice until Dec 21

Source: The News International

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday stopped the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from deciding its notice to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over a case against intra-party election until December 21.

A two-member bench comprising Justice SM Atiq Shah and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah heard the writ petition. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Syed Sikandar Hayat Shah Advocate, Naumaul Haq Kakakhel, Shah Faisal Uthmankhel represented the PTI in the court. Mohsin Kamran Siddiqui appeared on behalf of the ECP.

The PTI had filed the petition in the high court. The court was told that the PTI's intra-party elections were held in Peshawar on December 2, in which Barrister Gohar Khan was elected unopposed as the party chairman.

According to the petition, PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar had filed an application in the ECP against the intra-party election although he was not a member of the party. The petitioners told the court that Section 208 and 209 of Election Act 2017 provided for intra-party election, which was held every five years. He said that the PTI intra-party election was held under the PTI constitution and in the light of the orders of the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The Peshawar High Court stopped the Election Commission of Pakistan from making a final decision on its notice.

After hearing arguments, the court ordered the ECP from taking a final decision on the notice and adjourned the proceedings.

On Dec 11, the Peshawar High Court stopped the ECP from issuing the final order on a petition against the PTI's polls on Dec 2, 2023.