PTI’s intra-party election: PHC stops ECP from final decision

Humayun Khan

PESHAWAR: A divisional bench of Peshawar High Court (PHC) comprising of Justice SM Attique Shah and Justice Shakeel Ahmad stopped Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from final decision on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) intra-party elections as well as ordered for submission of reply while adjourned further hearing till 19th December, on Monday.

PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Qazi Muhammad Anwar, Syed Sikandar Shah and Nauman-ul-Haq Kakahel advocates appeared before PHC during hearing of the writ’s plea.

Barrister Gohar Ali argued that PTI intra-party election was held on 2nd December in which he was elected as chairman unopposed at Peshawar. He added that Akbar S Babar had challenged PTI’s intra-party election despite he isn’t the party’s member.

PTI’s intra-party election concluded under sections 208 and 209 of Election Act 2017 which is to held within five years as per party’s constitution. A complaint was lodged at ECP against PTI’s intra-party and it is enlisted for hearing on today (Tuesday) beyond jurisdiction while the commission had declared that decide the matter if PTI representative didn’t appear.

Barrister Gohar Ali argued that PTI had victimized in every case it may be in foreign funding case, jail trial or any other case by ECP. He added that ECP didn’t issued certificate to PTI after submission intra-party’s result which necessary before election schedule.

However, Justice SM Attique Shah remarked that it is enough that your are party’s chairman while Barrister Gohar Ali argued that if ECP declare PTI’s intra-party election null and void, then the commission will announce election schedule on next day which create problems.

PHC’s divisional bench comprised of Justice SM Attique Shah and Justice Shakeel Ahmad ordered ECP for submission of reply within seven days and stopped from final verdict on PTI’s intra-party election while adjourned further till 19th December.