Daily Times

Despite intervention by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday decided to take action against party workers who had decided to contest upcoming elections as independents after being denied party tickets.

A PTI statement said that the party leadership had decided to take action against its workers who had violated party ‘code of conduct’.

For the purpose, the PTI formed a two-member committee comprising Naeemul Haque and Arshad Daad to point out such members and probe the matter to take action accordingly.

The statement added that such kind of act was not only against party “rules” but also a violation of articles 62 and 63 of constitution.

Earlier in the day, the ECP summoned PTI Chairman Imran Khan in connection with a plea stating that the PTI chief had sought assurance affidavits from ticket hopefuls.

A five-judge bench headed by the chief election commissioner heard the plea filed by PTI’s ticket hopeful Mulk Munir.

During the hearing, counsel for Munir told the commission that the PTI had sought assurance from applicants that they would not leave the party or contest as independent in case they are refused tickets.

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.

Several contacts were made to contact PTI information secretary Fawad Chaudhry for his comment but his staff officer said that he was busy and would contact back. However, Chaudrhy did not reply till the filing of the news report.

Published in Daily Times, July 4^th 2018.