ECP rejects MQM-P plea for two-month delay in intra-party elections case

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday turned down a request by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) seeking a two-month period for party chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui to appear in proceedings related to the party’s intra-party elections.

According to an ECP statement, the matter was heard by a three-member commission led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. Director General Political Finance Masood Sherwani and a representative of MQM-P appeared before the commission during the hearing.

Sherwani told the commission that MQM-P last conducted its intra-party elections on October 16, 2021. He said that under the party’s legal framework, the next intra-party elections were due on Oct 16, 2025.

He further informed the commission that the ECP had directed MQM-P to hold the elections by January 16, 2026. However, the party later adopted a resolution under which the tenure of the current office-bearers was extended by one year.

Sherwani said the party’s resolution stated that the elections would be held before March 16, 2026.

Request for more time declined

During the hearing, the MQM-P representative told the commission that Siddiqui wanted to appear before it personally and requested that he be granted two months for that purpose. The representative said, “He is busy with cabinet and ministerial duties due to the ongoing war,” while explaining the request for additional time.

In response, the chief election commissioner said, “What war is going on in Pakistan? He cannot be given two months.”

The commission then directed that Siddiqui or his legal counsel appear before it at the next hearing.

Following the exchange, the ECP adjourned the case until April 16.

Case concerns intra-party polls timeline

The proceedings relate to the timing of MQM-P’s intra-party elections and the party’s request for more time in connection with the appearance of its chairman before the commission. The ECP statement outlined the sequence presented before the commission, including the date of the last intra-party elections, the deadline earlier set by the commission, and the party resolution extending the current tenure.

The hearing was conducted before the three-member bench headed by the chief election commissioner, with the ECP’s political finance wing represented by Sherwani and the party represented through its nominee.

With the request for a two-month extension rejected, the commission has now asked Siddiqui or his counsel to appear when the matter is taken up again on April 16.