Islamabad: The Election Commission has scheduled the hearing for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s intra-party case for February 11, 2025. Notices have been issued to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and Rauf Hasan in this regard.
The Election Commission has also issued notices to Akbar S Babar and other petitioners in the case.
During the previous hearing, PTI had requested additional time to submit its response, to which the Election Commission ruled that the hearing would be held on February 11.
Background of the Case:
PTI held its first intra-party elections on June 9, 2022, which were challenged by the Election Commission and heard for approximately one and a half years. In November 2023, the Election Commission declared these elections null and void, giving the party 20 days to hold new elections to retain its electoral symbol, the “bat.”
PTI promptly held new elections on December 2, 2023, but the Election Commission once again declared them invalid. The Election Commission argued that PTI’s Secretary-General had not appointed a federal election commissioner for these elections.
Following various objections from the Election Commission, PTI submitted a detailed response regarding its intra-party elections, asserting that it is an active and legitimate political party and that its electoral process should be recognized.
After reviewing all of PTI’s documents, the Election Commission, on March 3, 2024, allowed the party to hold intra-party elections once again. Following this decision, PTI called a general body meeting on January 31, 2024, for its elections and informed the Election Commission on February 21, 2024, after obtaining approval.
Despite this entire process, PTI has so far succeeded in retaining its electoral symbol, the “bat,” and continues to exercise its constitutional rights under the 2017 Election Act.
