ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has declared its intent to hold intra-party elections on February 5, just three days prior to the commencement of national polling involving over 128 million registered voters.
According to the election schedule issued by the chief election commissioner for intra-party polls, Raoof Hasan, nomination papers will be accepted until 8 pm on February 2.
This decision follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that upheld the December 23 order of the Election Commission of Pakistan, nullifying the PTI’s earlier intra-party elections.
In response to the court’s decision, the PTI resolved to have its candidates run as independents, campaigning actively on social media.
However, concerns have been raised about the safety of PTI leaders following an explosion near a party rally in Balochistan’s Sibi and the killing of Rehan Zeb Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur.
A resolution pertaining to this course of action was adopted during the party’s general body meeting on Wednesday.
The scrutiny of papers is scheduled for February 2, with the final list of candidates set to be released on February 3.
On Monday, polling will take place from 10 am to 4 pm, and the results are expected to be announced on February 6.
The election commissioners for the respective provinces and Gilgit Baltistan are as follows:
- Qazi Muhammad Anwar – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Senate Waleed Iqbal – Punjab
- Justice (retd) Noorul Haq Qureshi – Sindh
- Muhammad Dawood Khan – Balochistan
- Shah Nasir – Gilgit Baltistan
