Islamabad: The Election Commission has reserved its decision on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) requests to keep the intra-party election case pending until the Supreme Court provides clarification and determines the Commission’s jurisdiction.
During the hearing of PTI’s intra-party election case, PTI’s new lawyer, Uzair Bhandari, appeared before the Election Commission.
In his arguments, Uzair Bhandari stated that PTI has filed four petitions, adding that the FIA had raided and seized all of their records.
He mentioned that they do not have the original documents or electronic records.
Barrister Gohar remarked that they even took their water dispenser during the raid.
Uzair Bhandari further requested the Election Commission to instruct the retrieval of the records from the FIA.
He pointed out that the Election Commission had sent a questionnaire, with the first question asking about the current status of PTI.
He noted that the Supreme Court’s short order regarding reserved seats has already clarified that PTI was and is a political party.
A member from KP commented that the Election Commission never stated that PTI is not a registered political party.
Uzair Bhandari suggested waiting for the Supreme Court’s detailed decision for further clarification.
He noted that the Election Commission has sought clarification from the Supreme Court regarding the reserved seats, and stated that PTI does not agree with the Election Commission’s assertion that PTI has no organizational structure.
The KP member clarified that the Election Commission did not request the Supreme Court to determine whether PTI’s new intra-party elections should be recognized, but rather asked whom to recognize for party certification until the intra-party elections are accepted.
Barrister Gohar added that he had issued the certificates for the 39 members who were accepted as PTI members.
The KP member clarified that these certificates were accepted not because of Gohar’s signature, but on the orders of the Supreme Court.
Uzair Bhandari requested the Election Commission to first decide on the matter of jurisdiction.
DG Law argued that the Supreme Court’s short order only required the submission of party certificates for 41 independent members, without specifying any particular political party.
He mentioned that independent members can join any political party, and the Election Commission has sought clarification from the Supreme Court regarding which authority’s certificate should be accepted for the inclusion of these 41 members in PTI.
The Election Commission reserved its decision on PTI’s requests to keep the case pending until the Supreme Court’s clarification on jurisdiction. The hearing was adjourned until September 18th.