Today, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is set to convene and hear a series of crucial petitions that could significantly impact the country’s political landscape. The petitions range from seeking the removal of former Prime Minister Imran Khan as the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to requesting the withholding of an election symbol for the former ruling party in the upcoming elections.
The hearings will be conducted by a five-member bench, presided over by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Sikandar Sultan and featuring the ECP’s four provincial members.
The most prominent case on the docket is the petition filed by Khalid Mehmood Khan, which seeks the removal of Imran Khan as the head of the PTI party. This move comes after the ECP’s decision in November last year to disqualify Imran Khan as a lawmaker for one term due to an omission in his assets and liability statement, where he failed to disclose gifts received during his tenure as prime minister. Furthermore, when a trial court convicted Imran Khan in the same case on August 5, the ECP issued a notification, rendering the former premier ineligible for five years.
Another application scheduled for review demands action against the PTI, alleging that the party is still receiving funds from foreign entities. Khalid Mehmood Khan has also lodged this petition.
Additionally, an application by Imran Khan’s former aide, Awan Chaudhry, is on the agenda. It calls for the ECP to declare the PTI party ineligible to obtain an election symbol under Section 215(4) of the Election Act, 2017, read with Election Rules, 2017.
Notably, the same bench will also consider a petition against former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry for his alleged use of derogatory language against the polls oversight authority.
The outcome of these hearings could have far-reaching implications for Pakistan’s political landscape, with Imran Khan’s future as PTI chairman hanging in the balance and the party’s eligibility to contest future elections at stake. Political analysts and citizens alike will be closely monitoring the proceedings as they unfold.
