ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday reserved its verdict on Awami National Party (ANP) intra-party elections. A five-member Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja heard the case.

The commission has turned down the ANP’s plea for a six-month time for conduct of iintra-party elections,with the Chief Election Commissioner leaving a clear hint that ANP will not be able to contest the upcoming general election with its poll symbol.

ANP Secretary General, Mian Iftikhar, appeared before the Election Commission to make request for extension in time for intra-party polls. The ECP brnch pointed out that the last intra-party election of ANP were held in May 2019, and according to the party’s constitution, the term of office bearers was four years, which expired seven months ago.

The Election Commission officials explained before the forum that petitioner could not fulfill the legal requirement and wants more time to do the needful. A certificate in relation to a political party’s intra-party polls is the prerequisite for qualifying the allotment of election symbol.

CEC hints ANP may lose poll symbol

The counsel for the petitioner explained that on the completion of the tenure of the ANP office-bearers, the party cabinet was allowed to extend for one year.

He added that the party elections are held down to the grassroots level, whereas the organization is complete up to the ground level, but since general elections are being held, it would not be possible.

When Mian Iftikhar urged the bench to give his party six months time for intra-party elections, the Chief Election Commissioner remarked that there was no excuse that intra-party elections should not be held.

“It does not seem that you will be able to contest the next election on your own symbol, you should have prepared for the intra-party elections only after three and a half years, as after five years, the Commission cannot extend the intra-party elections. You may or may not get an extension now,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission Thursday indefinitely put off hearing of a petition seeking removal of Adviser to the caretaker prime minister Fawad Hassan Fawad, as the petitioner Azizuddin Kakakhel did not turn up.

Members repose trust in CEC

Amidst demands for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja,the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday said all the four members of the Commission have reposed unwavering confidence in the CEC. ECP spokesman Haroon Khan Shinwari in a statement made it clear that all decisions at the Commission were being taken with consensus after mutual consultation and keeping in view the demands of law.

Through another statement, the Commission rejected the claim by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council about reduction in the National Assembly seat for the province, regretted that an attempt was being made to create confusion in the minds of people.

It explained according to the 25th Constitutional Amendment in 2018, after the merger of the erstwhile FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, 12 National Assembly seats of FATA were abolished and the seats of the National Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province were increased from 39 to 45.

Similarly, 16 general seats have been added to its tally of the provincial assembly from 99 to 115.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2023