PTI granted time till Aug 15 to submit response in intra-party polls case

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday sought more time from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the submission of a response in intra-party polls case.

Barrister Gohar, counsel for the PTI, appeared before a five-member of Election Commission of Pakistan headed by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja. He informed the ECP bench that he had appeared before IHC today in an important case and therefore could not get time to prepare for the proceedings in the commission. “Please grant me more time to submit a response,” Barrister Gohar pleaded with the ECP at the outset of the hearing. The plea was accepted by the Election Commission of Pakistan after which the hearing was adjourned until August 15.

The bench directed the PTI’s counsel to submit the party’s response at the next hearing. It is to be noted that the last date for the PTI to conduct intra-party polls was June 13, 2021, but the party was given till June 13 this year on its request. The ECP added that a last notice was issued in June 2022 and further delay is not possible.

According to Section 208 of the Elections Act, all political parties were required to elect office-bearers at the federal, provincial and local levels, periodically in accordance with the Constitution of the respective political party. “Provided that a period, not exceeding five years, shall intervene between any two elections,” a proviso to section 208(1) of the act read.