PTI intra-party elections: ECP denies legitimacy to Barrister Gohar as chairman

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has formally declined to accept Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), citing unresolved issues surrounding the party’s internal elections.

In an official communication, the ECP said that PTI’s intra-party poll dispute is still under adjudication, with the Lahore High Court (LHC) currently enforcing a stay order. Given these legal constraints, the Commission said it cannot grant official status to any individual as the party’s chairman at this stage.

The letter further notes that Barrister Gohar holds no constitutional authority within the party in the capacity of chairman and, as such, the ECP does not recognise him in that role.

Political observers say the development could deepen PTI’s ongoing internal rifts and may complicate the party’s leadership structure even further, adding new layers of legal uncertainty to an already contentious issue.

A day earlier, Barrister Gohar confirmed receiving the ECP’s correspondence, saying it was the first time the Commission had formally notified him that it could not acknowledge him as PTI’s chairman.

PTI RESPONSE TO DG IDPR’S PRESS CONFERENCE

Earlier, Gohar Ali Khan held a press conference to respond to the comments made by Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Director General Lt-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. Gohar said that he was deeply saddened by the DG ISPR’s statements, “The language used was inappropriate. We want to clarify that perhaps some people want to pit us against each other. We all must let go of our egos and give space to one another. Meetings are not happening, and cases are not being registered.”

PTI leader Salman Akram Raja added, “If something has upset you, we are ready to talk.”