ISLAMABAD: The Awaam Pakistan party has challenged the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to delist it over alleged non-conduct of intra-party elections, calling it “arbitrary, unwarranted and unprecedented”.
In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja dated Aug 12, 2026, ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who is also the party’s president, said his party was “taken by surprise” by an ECP notification issued on Aug 7.
The notification cited an ECP order dated Aug 3, 2026 in a case titled “non-conduct of intra-party election by Awaam Pakistan”.
Mr Abbasi said that his party had conducted intra-party elections for both the National General Council and National Office-bearers between March 26 and April 2, 2026. He said the polls were held within the extension period granted by the ECP in its decision of Jan 2026.
“The results of the intra-party election and detailed documentation were submitted to the ECP on April 6, 2026,” the letter said. He said that 12,846 party members participated in the exercise, which was “democratic, transparent, and in full compliance with the Elections Act, 2017”.
Terming the delisting of his party “in contradiction of the record available with the ECP”, Mr Abbasi said the action was taken “without an opportunity to be heard by the Election Commission”.
“We request an urgent hearing by the Commission so that we can clarify our position,” he wrote.
Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2026