The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is set to deliberate on three petitions targeting the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, including one aimed at removing former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s name as party chairman and another seeking the party’s ineligibility for obtaining an electoral symbol. These petitions will be heard on October 10, as confirmed by sources within the ECP.
The petitions, filed by Khalid Mehmood Khan and Mohammad Awn Saqlain, have ignited fresh controversy surrounding the former ruling party. Khalid Mehmood Khan’s plea focuses on removing Imran Khan’s name as PTI chairman from the ECP’s records. In a separate filing, Khan alleges that PTI continues to receive “prohibited funds from foreign entities,” calling for the electoral body’s intervention.
Mohammad Awn Saqlain’s application, on the other hand, seeks to have PTI declared ineligible for electoral symbols under Section 215(4) of the Election Rules 2017. The ECP is expected to weigh the merits of this argument during the upcoming hearing.
In a related development, the ECP will also address a case against PTI’s former leader, Fawad Chaudhry, for his alleged use of “contemptuous” language against the electoral body and its officials. This case adds to the legal challenges facing PTI and its key figures.
Notably, former Prime Minister Imran Khan is currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail in a cipher case. In August, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) booked Khan under the Official Secrets Act for alleged misplacement and misuse of a classified document for political gain.
In a parallel matter, the ECP has scheduled a preliminary hearing on October 10 in response to an application filed by Syed Aziz Ud Din Kaka Khel. The application seeks the removal of allegedly biased cabinet members from the caretaker government to ensure a free, fair, and transparent electoral process.
The upcoming hearing before the ECP has raised anticipation regarding its potential impact on the political landscape of Pakistan, as PTI faces multiple legal challenges while the nation prepares for upcoming elections.
