PTI has lost its electoral brand, not political party status: Election Commission
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan has said on Tuesday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is a recognized political party registered with the Election Commission despite losing its electoral symbol.
A spokesperson of the Election Commission told The News that PTI's registration was not canceled but only the electoral symbol was withdrawn for the upcoming elections as PTI failed to hold intra-party elections as per the law.
When he was asked whether independent candidates who are successful in the February 8 general elections can join PTI or not, the spokesperson said that it is a legal question for which the election will be answered. The legal wing of the commission has to look into it.
He said that the legal wing has to examine the legal implications of PTI's withdrawal of election symbol and see whether the successful independent candidates can join PTI on the National and Provincial Assembly seats or not. .
When contacted, former Chairman Senate and constitutional expert Waseem Sajjad told this correspondent that although the matter is disturbing, in his opinion PTI has only been prevented from contesting the elections by withdrawing the election symbol.
He said that since the Election Commission has not canceled the party's registration, the party still exists and the successful independent candidates can join PTI like any other party.
On Monday, former attorney general and senior lawyer Anwar Mansoor told The News that after the elections, successful independent candidates will have the option of joining the PTI.
He further said that the successful independent candidates can represent PTI in the upcoming Parliament.
However, the former secretary of the Election Commission, Kanwar Dilshad, was of the opinion that a political party which loses its electoral symbol also loses its official status and is de-registered from the Election Commission.
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