ISLAMABAD: The PTI intra-party polls, which were re-held recently after the previous ones were struck down by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), have been challenged once again.

To avoid misuse or unauthorised use of PTI bank accounts, PTI ‘founding member’ Akbar S. Babar has asked the ECP to issue directions to all banks concerned in the country to freeze all PTI accounts until such time as it complies with the orders of the ECP and holds fresh intra-party polls in accordance with law and duly elected/authorised representatives of PTI take office.

In a complaint sent to the Chief Election Commissioner, Akbar S. Babar — the party’s perennial foe — has asked that the intra-party election of March 3, be declared null and void and the party’s ‘defunct’ leadership be restrained from making more attempts to hold such unlawful elections until the matter is resolved under the supervision of the ECP.

Mr Babar, who also brought the prohibited funding case against the PTI, has asked the ECP to initiate contempt proceedings against the PTI leadership for issuing the February 2 press release in complete disregard of the orders of the ECP, the Islamabad High Court, and the Supreme Court of Pakistan validating his membership of PTI.

Party’s perennial foe wants all members who joined SIC to be barred from operating party accounts, using offices

In addition, the plea asks that all PTI members who have joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), by their own declaration, should no longer be considered members of PTI as they cannot represent it at any forum, or use its resources.

He claimed that all those PTI members and office-bearers of PTI, elected to the national and provincial assemblies as ‘Independents’, who have submitted signed and sworn affidavits before the ECP of joining the SIC have consequently lost their basic membership of PTI under Election Act, 2017, Section 203, subsection (3).

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.