ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has delisted Awaam Pakistan, the political party formed by former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, for failing to hold intra-party elections.

In a notification issued on Friday, the ECP said that pursuant to its order dated August 3, 2026, in a case titled “non-conduct of intra-party election by Awaam Pakistan”, the party “stands delisted accordingly”.

Awaam Pakistan was launched in 2024 by Mr Abbasi after he parted ways with the PML-N. The former prime minister had cited the need for a new political platform focused on economic reforms, constitutionalism and good governance.

Commission says Awaam Pakistan Party has also failed to submit annual statements of accounts, expenditures, income and liabilities

The ECP had taken up the matter after noting that Awaam Pakistan had not submitted proof of having conducted intra-party polls.

With the delisting, Awaam Pakistan will not be eligible to contest elections under its name and election symbol unless it is re-registered with the commission after fulfilling legal requirements, including holding intra-party elections.

An ECP official said that Awaam Pakistan was registered on January 9, 2025.

Its first election was for an interim set-up, while under the party constitution intra-party elections were due by June 18, 2025. He said the ECP had issued notices on July 17 and September 18, 2025, but the party did not submit annual statements of accounts, expenditures, income and liabilities.

The ECP had granted the party a three-month period to hold intra-party elections. During that time, a new constitution was submitted on March 25 and elections were held under the amended constitution instead of the original one, an exercise objected to by the ECP. The ECP had reserved its verdict on July 22.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026