ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has barred the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from contesting upcoming by-polls in four Constituencies over its failure to hold the intra-party elections.
Sources said that the ECP had given a March 23 deadline to the PTI for holding the intra-party elections; however, Imran Khan-led mainstream political party failed to do so.
Following the ban imposed by the ECP, the PTI will not be eligible to contest the by-elections in four Constituencies including PP-23 Chakwal, PS-81 Sanghar, PK-54 Mansehra and PK-82 Kohistan.
The by-election in PP-23 Chakwal is scheduled on April 18, in PS-81 Sanghar on April 20 whereas PK-54 Mansehra and PK-82 Kohistan will witness the by-polls on May 10.
Sources said that now the PTI will have to field their Candidates in April-May by-elections as Independent Candidates.
Earlier last Friday, the ECP said that the PTI was not eligible to be issued an election symbol in the upcoming elections as it had failed to hold intra-party elections.
The ECP said that the PTI had failed to conduct intra-party elections as per Sections 11 and 12 of the Political Parties Order (PPO) 2002; therefore, according to the Section 14 of PPO 2002, the PTI remained no longer eligible for allotment of election symbol in the ensuing elections.
