KARACHI: The election tribunal of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf recorded statements and examined evidence on Monday, ignoring party chairman Imran Khan’s order of dissolving it.

According to a source privy to the proceedings, the tribunal met for more than four hours and decided to meet again next week.

“The tribunal headed by Justice retired Wajihuddin Ahmed is unmoved by Imran Khan’s decision,” he said.

Also read: PTI tribunal defies Imran

“The tribunal did its job today with full strength. All the members attended the proceedings, which included recording of statements and examination of different evidence. The tribunal took up several complaints one by one and after a four-hour session decided to meet again on May 4.”

Last week, the PTI chairman dissolved the tribunal after it summoned him for non-compliance with its orders.

The tribunal had taken up several complaints received from PTI members who alleged irregularities in intra-party elections and termed the polls ‘flawed’. It also reduced terms of office of the office-bearers elected in 2013 from four to two years.

“If one calls the tribunal defying the party chairman’s orders, he or she needs to clear the concept,” said the source.

“The executive only enjoys powers to appoint and set up the tribunal. It can never dissolve, terminate or bring an end to its work until it completes the job it has been assigned for. There is a misconception that the tribunal is defying chairman’s orders. It’s not the case. In fact, the party chairman is defying the set rules of legal affairs.”

The tribunal was working for reforms in the party and its findings would lead to set the course of true democratic culture in the PTI, he said, adding that the existence of the body and its functioning despite dissolution order could not be challenged in any court of law.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2015

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