Daily Times

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on July 4 (tomorrow) in a plea against seeking assurance affidavits from the party ticket hopefuls.

A five-judge bench headed by chief election commissioner heard a plea against PTI’s act of seeking assurance on affidavits from ticket hopefuls for general election 2018 scheduled for July 25. The petition had been filed by PTI’s ticket hopeful Mulk Munir. During the hearing, Munir’s counsel informed the court that the PTI sought assurance on affidavits from applicants for party tickets that they will not leave the party or contest as independent candidates in case they are refused tickets to contest the upcoming general election. To this, ECP Punjab member Altaf Ibrahim Qureshi said, “Political parties have always issued tickets based on these conditions.” “Have other parties also sought similar assurance affidavits?” he asked.

The petitioner’s counsel responded, “All parties are seeking such assurance affidavits but they are illegal and against their manifestos. No political party can stop a candidate from contesting as an independent.” During the proceedings, an ECP representative from Sindh observed that all political parties were demanding affidavits from its members. However, the petitioner’s counsel pointed out that the affidavit sought by PTI included a clause that prevented party members from contesting polls independently. He maintained that the move was illegal according to the laws governing elections and also against the party’s discipline. After hearing the counsel’s arguments, the bench issued a notice summoning Imran Khan on Wednesday.

Published in Daily Times, July 3^rd 2018.