ECP reserves ruling on plea for PTI chief’s removal from party chairman slot

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has deferred its decision on a plea requesting the removal of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief from the party’s chairmanship and the withdrawal of the bat as the party’s election symbol for contesting polls.

A five-member commission of the country’s top electoral body heard the plea filed by petitioner Khalid Mehmood Khan. The petitioner’s legal representative presented the case before the commission.

During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel argued that the PTI chairman had been convicted in the Toshakhana case. He pointed out that in the case of Nawaz Sharif, an order had been issued by the Supreme Court.
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A member of the Election Commission from Sindh inquired about the relevant clauses in the Election Act. The lawyer clarified that while the Political Parties Act addressed this issue, the Election Act did not provide specific provisions.

When the commission asked the petitioner’s counsel about the potential outcome if the PTI chairman’s appeal was accepted, the lawyer responded that the PTI chief would resume his office.

The Chief Election Commissioner questioned the differences between the PTI chief’s case and Nawaz Sharif’s case. The lawyer explained that Nawaz Sharif had been disqualified by the Supreme Court, whereas the ruling against the PTI chairman had been issued by both the ECP and the trial court.

Subsequently, the ECP decided to reserve its judgment on the petition seeking the removal of the PTI chief from the party chairmanship.

The commission also reserved its ruling on whether the petition was maintainable or non-maintainable. Additionally, the ECP postponed its decision on the petition seeking the withdrawal of the electoral symbol, the bat, from the PTI, with the ruling expected to be announced at a later time.