ISLAMABAD: The Ele­ction Commission of Pakis­tan (ECP) on Thursday refused to recognise Meh­mood Khan Achakzai as Chairman of the Pakhtu­nkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) over the party’s failure to hold intra-party elections.

A full five-member bench of the commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the matter.

Two other cases related to the party were also fixed for hearing. It was learnt that not only Mr Achakzai’s leadership but also certain “controversial” amendments made to the party’s constitution and PkMAP’s account details were under question.

At the initial hearing last week, the ECP bench had observed that a decision would first be made regarding the party’s counsel, Aimal Mandokhail. On Thursday, the chief election commissioner said an order would be issued regarding the power of attorney.

The CEC made the remarks after inquiring from the lawyer as to who had signed the power of attorney submitted to the commission.

Mr Mandokhail replied that the party chairman, Mr Achakzai, had signed the document, but the chief election commissio­ner pointed out that at present there was no party head as no intra-party election had been conducted so far.

He added that the power of attorney would be placed on record, but an order would be issued on whether or not it was acceptable.

Mr Mandokhail has sought to represent the party in the three cases, but this is now subject to the ECP’s order on the power of attorney. It was learnt that PkMAP had conducted intra-party ele­ctions on December 21, 2022, and since the term of office-bearers was fixed for three years, new elections were mandatory by December 21, 2025.

The CEC said the commission had reminded the party to hold elections on October 1, 2025, and issued a show-cause notice on January 15, 2026. In response, the party sought a 180-day extension, which was granted.

However, a subsequent request for another 180 days was rejected, with the commission clarifying that intra-party elections must be completed by June 19, 2026, in any case. The party neither held the elections nor submitted a proper response to the ECP.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2026