Election Commission Refers Verification of PTI’s Independent Members to Supreme Court

Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has referred the matter of 41 independent members associated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to the Supreme Court. In a letter to the Registrar of the Supreme Court seeking clarification on the decision, the ECP stated that the independent members had submitted documents confirming their party affiliation, asserting that PTI would endorse their association.
The letter highlighted that PTI does not have a party structure registered in the records of the Election Commission. Therefore, the question arises as to who will verify the party affiliation of these independent members in the absence of a formal PTI structure.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, representing the Election Commission, pointed out that PTI does not have a party chairman listed in their records, prompting the Supreme Court to guide on this matter. Previously, the Election Commission had acknowledged 39 independent members as PTI members and published their details on its website.
This development underscores the ongoing legal scrutiny over the status of independent members claiming affiliation with PTI, further complicating the political landscape ahead of upcoming electoral processes.