PTI not eligible for allotment of election symbol: Election Commission

E-Paper | March 03, 2026

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in a statement on Friday said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is not eligible to be issued a election symbol in the upcoming general elections as it has failed to hold intra-party elections.

ECP cited that PTI has failed to conduct intra-party elections as per Sections 11 and 12 of Political Parties Ordinance, 2002.

Therefore, according to the Section 14 of the same act, PTI is no longer eligible for "allotment of election symbol in the ensuing elections", the statement added.

PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry told DawnNews, "Under the law, the ECP must issue a notice to a political party before taking any such measures."

Its refusal to issue PTI an election symbol shows "malafide intentions", Chaudhry said, adding the final plan for the intra-party polls will be announced after deliberation in a party meeting tomorrow.

Earlier, it was reported that the PTI core committee had postponed intra-party elections owing to the ongoing Panama Leaks case in the Supreme Court. The committee wanted to hold intra-party polls after general elections in 2018.

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KHALID YOUSAFZAI (UK)

Mar 31, 2017 09:18pm

wonderful. The election symbol costs money which PTI cannot afford please beg Zardari or NS for loan

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KHALID YOUSAFZAI (UK)

Mar 31, 2017 09:19pm

what is the PRICE of buying the "Election symbol"

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Haal

Mar 31, 2017 09:28pm

PTI should comply with the law and hold the elections there is still time. Law abiding citizens will appreciate that move by PTI. However if PTI tries to wiggle out of the legal requirement then there won't be much difference between them and others.

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Zia

Mar 31, 2017 10:00pm

Election commission ia right. PTI is the only democratic party among thw top ones. All others are family corporations and do not need elections. JI being the other smaller party. MQM is democratic only if leader allows it.

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PakCanuck

Mar 31, 2017 10:34pm

What does the intra-party elections have to do with Panama leak It is bizarre that PTI wants to have the party elections after the general elections. In the rest of the world, party elections take place much before the general elections. Just saying

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Zaheer

Mar 31, 2017 11:09pm

A good move by government. if PTI holds election this time, the preparation for election 2018 will be affected.

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Subhan Khaji Kheli

Mar 31, 2017 11:10pm

i think Imran instead of giving lessons to others should abide by the rules and regs then ppl will believe of it being democratic.

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Sohail

Mar 31, 2017 11:16pm

PTI by not holding elections within, has proved it self totally in contrast to what it stands for i.e. Justice. This is a sad development for someone, who was hopeful about PTI a few years back.

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Azam Khan

Apr 01, 2017 12:05am

ECP is gutless as it dare not ask PML(n) & PPP to have "FAIR" intra-party elections. Candidates in both the parties are selected & not elected.Why doesn't ECP take notice of that.

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M.Saeed

Apr 01, 2017 12:13am

Why the committee wanted to hold intra-party polls after general elections in 2018? Is it sure to have Panama result favorable to the party that would catapult it to the driving seat and making party election not needed after that?

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salman

Apr 01, 2017 12:25am

What crap by our ECP have PPP/PMLN/JUIF and others held elections

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Hussain

Apr 01, 2017 12:55am

These intraparty elections in Pakistan are eyewash and throw same old masters for party slaves.

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ali

Apr 01, 2017 01:08am

Imran Khan should learn from Zardari as how to response to gutless ECP.

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Uzair Latif

Apr 01, 2017 02:17am

Well, though there is a law for intra party elections, its about time that there should be defined protocol for the elections as well that ensures that elections cannot be rigged or influenced and are completely independent, both in intra party and national elections.

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Raheel

Apr 01, 2017 02:44am

ECP is part of Government and N league is Government

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Junaid

Apr 01, 2017 02:54am

Intra party elections in pakistan is a joke. The party leader gets the ticket unopposed every time. It's merely a formality.

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Sameer

Apr 01, 2017 04:10am

Pti should fulfill this requirement exactly the way ppp and pmln did.

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Talha

Apr 01, 2017 06:21am

Firstly ECP should not be allowed to hold elections before it truly implements findings of election inquiry commission. PMLN's intra party elections are a joke as that was more a case of selection than election but ECP has no issue with. I have no trust in ECP. If PTI holds intra party elections it will require time, resources and planning because those would be proper intra party elections as IK believes in intra party elections. He can easily have an intra party joke like PMLN's but he wants to do it properly. With Panama Leaks the biggest issue currently, IK has put the interest of public ahead of the interest of his party. But PTI will and should eventually have proper intra party elections. ECP needs reforms without which next elections would be meaningless.

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Shaukat Ali Khan

Apr 01, 2017 09:28am

PTI just a party of blameering, containeering, and sloganeering. It is not even competent to hold intra-party elections.

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Shaukat Ali Khan

Apr 01, 2017 09:30am

@KHALID YOUSAFZAI (UK) Symbol needs intra-party elections, which PTI has failed to hold; Sir. Can you give example where ECP is allocating any other party a symbol without party elections?

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Apr 01, 2017 10:05am

Still all PTI candidates can apply for election candidate as independent and PTI can held joint rallies to elect them that will be legal and permissible. Once elected they can merge in PTI.

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