ECP registers PTI but doesn’t name its head

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is among those parties registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) who have no heads.

The new list comprising 166 parties and one alliance — the Grand Democratic Alliance — carries the names of presidents or chairmen of some political parties. However, the PTI’s latest intra-party elections, conducted in early March this year, have not been declared in accordance with the law and a case is pending with the Election Commission.

However, the PTI-Parliamentarians is headed by ex-CM Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan, while Akhtar Iqbal Dar is the Chairman of the PTI-Nazriyati. The ruling PMLN is now headed by former premier Muhammad Nawaz Sharif after the party elections; previously, it was headed by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

Similarly, the commission has recognised the electoral exercise of Jamaat-e-Islami and now Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has replaced Sirajul Haq.

President Asif Ali Zardari continues to lead the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) as its head and his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party.

The only alliance, GDA, is headed by Pir Sibghatullah Shah. Ghanwa Bhutto leads the PPP-Shaheed Bhutto as its chairperson.

Ex-PM Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is President of Pakistan Muslim League and Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui heads the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan. Veteran politician Asfandyar Wali Khan is President of the Awami National Party.

Likewise, Sardar Akhtar Mengal is the head of Balochistan National Party (Mengal). The Balochistan Awami Party is led by Nawabzada Khalid Hussain Magsi. Shahzain Bugti is head of the Jamhoori Watan Party. Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch is President of the National Party.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has reinstated the notification of MQM’s Dr. Mohan Manjani’s victory on the minority seat in the National Assembly. Dr. Manjani was elected an MNA on the ticket of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan.

Soon after his notification, Dr. Manjani’s resignation was received by the Election Commission and his membership was cancelled. However, the Election Commission notified his success when he denied submitting his resignation. Separately, in a statement, the Election Commission has reminded all the heads of political parties, in terms of section 210 of the Elections Act, 2017 read with Section 204 of the Act ibid and rule 159 & 160 of the Election Rules, 2017, thereof, that they are required to file their Consolidated Statement of Accounts on (Form-D) for Financial Year 2023-24 ending 30th June, 2024 on or before 29th August, 2024.