ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has submitted the documents related to its recently concluded intra-party elections to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in a bid to secure its electoral symbol “bat”, local media reported on Sunday.
According to media reports, PTI’s Federal Election Commissioner Raoof Hasan filed the necessary paperwork, which included details of newly-elected party office-bearers, a certificate from the party chief containing Form 65, and names of core committee members among other relevant records.
The party, led by Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as chairman and Omar Ayub as secretary-general following the March 3 elections, aims to obtain the required certification from the electoral body for the allocation of its electoral symbol.
Controversy Around PTI Intra-Party Polls
This move follows a series of challenges and controversies surrounding PTI’s intra-party polls and electoral symbol. After being disqualified from the election race due to the Supreme Court of Pakistan upholding the ECP’s decision to revoke its “bat” symbol, citing unlawful intra-party polls, PTI conducted fresh intra-party elections last week.
However, these recent polls have once again been met with challenges. PTI’s founding member Akbar S Babar has filed two separate pleas with the ECP seeking the annulment of the elections, alleging irregularities and exclusion from the process.
Babar criticized the intra-party elections as a “fraudulent drama,” questioning the unopposed election of familiar faces and demanding action against lawmakers who have joined other political parties.
Referring to the Supreme Court’s verdict, Babar asserted his membership in the party and accused the top leadership of preventing the empowerment of grassroots workers. He emphasized that the party leadership should not have the authority to make deals with other political entities without consultation.
