The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has declared its plan to conduct intra-party elections on March 3, marking a significant step in the party’s internal democratic process. As per the provided poll schedule, members are invited to submit their nomination papers on February 23 and 24.
Following the submission period, a thorough scrutiny of the nomination papers will be conducted, with the process expected to conclude by February 25. Decisions on the validity of the nominations will then be announced by February 27, allowing ample time for any necessary clarifications or appeals.
The polling for these internal elections is scheduled to take place at the PTI’s central secretariat in Islamabad, as well as at PTI offices situated across all four provinces of Pakistan.
It is important to note that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had previously declared the PTI’s intra-party polls as unconstitutional, resulting in the revocation of the party’s iconic symbol, the ‘bat’. Subsequently, this decision was challenged in the Peshawar High Court (PHC), which ultimately overturned the ECP’s order. However, the matter was later escalated to the apex court, where the ECP’s ruling was upheld.
In response to the electoral watchdog’s decision, PTI leaders had previously contested the February 8 elections as independent candidates, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of the party in navigating such challenges.