Intra-party polls: ECP served notices on 32 parties, including PML-N, in recent years

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan served show cause notices in recent years to 32 political parties, including Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), regarding intra-party elections and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was not an exception as it is being portrayed.

Data obtained from the ECP suggests that there are 179 parties registered with the commission and 60 of them were served show cause notices concerning their party accounts whereas 32 were called into question on delay in the holding of intra-party elections or objections raised over these elections.

As many as 13 parties have been delisted for not holding intraparty elections, non-maintenance of accounts whereas election symbols of 14 parties have been withheld and PTI is included among them. In each case, the ECP has mentioned the date of the last elections held by a registered party when the new one is due and whether that has been conducted or not.

In the case of PMLN, the party last held its election on June 16, 2023, and the next is due on the same date in 2027. According to the party’s constitution, the elections are held every four years. Most of the parties have mentioned the four-year duration for elections, including PTI. The record shows that PML-N was served with the show cause notices regarding intra-party elections and party accounts. The party subsequently addressed the questions raised by the ECP.

Out of the 179 parties, the Awami National Party is the only one whose status shows “extension granted.” This is related to the holding of intra-party elections. The ANP held its last elections in May 2019 and its constitution says the holding of this exercise after every four-years, meaning thereby the intra-party elections in May 2023 which it didn’t conduct.

When the ECP put it on notice, the party sought a six-month extension in time which was granted but it failed to do the needful. When summoned, the ANP sought another six months, which the commission granted by imposing a fine of Rs100,000. The ECP can allow a period of a maximum of five years between the two intra-party elections but not beyond that.

In the case of PTI, the first notice was served in June 2021 because, according to the PTI’s constitution, PTI was supposed to hold polls after the fourth year. One year extension was granted on the party’s request. The intra-party elections held in June 2022 were found in violation of the party’s constitution and the hearings started.

In November 2023, the ECP allowed another opportunity to PTI for elections which it did but failed to satisfy the ECP that they were held in line with its constitution. The ECP subsequently withheld its symbol.