Intra-party elections case: Gohar says PTI’s symbol is Imran Khan

Barrister Gohar says PTI to follow constitutional approach until new Chief Election Commissioner is appointed; party’s response to be submitted to ECP in next hearing

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) conducted a hearing on intra-party elections of the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Before the hearing, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan spoke to media and reiterated the party line that inter-party elections were conducted as per the constitution and law.

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“The ECP has not yet given the certificate,” Barrister Gohar said, adding, “PTI is the largest party in the country. We had given the constitutional and legal answers to the ECP. Hopefully, they will issue the certificate soon.”

Barrister Gohar also said that PTI expects that the documents taken from the party office will be returned.

ECP HEARING

The hearing of the PTI intra-party election case was presided over by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar appeared before the ECP.

The CEC said to PTI chairman that the case has been going on since April 30, 2024 but “PTI is yet to submit a written response”. He said that PTI have to submit a response to five applications and notices, CEC Raja added.

Barrister Gohar replied that PTI has responded to the notice, adding “We will submit the response to the petitions at the next hearing.”

The ECP adjourned the hearing until February 11, after instructing PTI to submit its response by then

POST HEARING MEDIA TALK

After the hearing, Barrister Gohar spoke to media outside the ECP again. “PTI is the only party that held intra-party elections. PTI’s intra-party election certificate is not being issued,” he said, adding, “PTI is the sixth largest political party in the world.”

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Barrister Gohar said that five petitioners in the case against PTI intra-party elections did not participate in the elections. “We will reply to the ECP at the next hearing,” he said.

Speaking on the PTI’s symbol being taken away due to flawed intra-party elections, Barrister Gohar said, “PTI’s symbol is Imran Khan”. PTI Chairman informed that Omar Ayub has written a letter to the National Assembly Speaker for the appointment of a new Chief Election Commissioner. Senator Shibli Faraz has also written a letter to the Senate Chairman for the formation of a parliamentary committee, he added.

“Until the new Chief Election Commissioner comes, we will continue this work constitutionally,” Barrister Gohar told media.

He also spoke on the allegations of ‘backdoor contacts’, saying “We only had one meeting, which the people are calling backdoor contacts. Our meeting was regarding the law and orders of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We had one meeting, that too on law and orders, nothing else.”

He said that the negotiations with the government should not be taken lightly, saying “I tell everyone to take them seriously. The negotiations are needed for the country, the nation and democracy.”

“We are participating in these negotiations with an open heart,” Barrister Gohar added.

“PTI’S ACCOUNTS SHOULD BE FROZEN”

Meanwhile, founder of PTI Akbar S Babar also spoke to media on the ECP hearing, and said, “PTI’s accounts should be frozen until the case is decided.”

He said that PTI’s organisational structure has no legal status. “PTI is currently ruled by infiltrators and infiltrators have no connection with PTI,” he said, adding that a group of vested interests has taken over PTI.

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“These people have spent eight years in the foreign funding case by making excuses,” he said, adding that the verdict in the £190 million case has exposed a lot of people in PTI. “Over a billion rupees were distributed among lawyers for PTI cases,” Akbar S. Babar alleged.