The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has formally informed Barrister Gohar Ali Khan that it does not recognise him as the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), according to a report.
Gohar announced during a news conference, responding to Friday’s briefing by the ISPR director general, stating, “Today, I have been informed through a letter that the Election Commission does not recognise me as the chairman of PTI.”
A senior ECP official confirmed that the letter, dated November 26, bears the signature of the commission’s Additional Director General (Elections), Syed Nadeem Haider. The correspondence was issued in response to Gohar’s application regarding the recently elected PTI-backed senators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
When approached, Gohar confirmed that he had received the letter on Saturday, though it had initially been delivered to the party’s Central Office.
The issue of PTI intra-party elections has been pending before the ECP for several months due to a stay order obtained by the political party from the Lahore High Court. Citing these circumstances, the ECP has declined to accept Gohar as the party chairman, effectively stating that he has no locus standi to act in that capacity.
Sources indicate that the ECP may soon consider seeking vacation of the stay order to reach a final verdict regarding the long-pending case. According to the ECP website, PTI is listed among 170 registered political parties at serial number 83, but the party currently has no officially recognised head or chairman.
The decision underscores ongoing challenges related to intra-party disputes within PTI and highlights the role of the ECP in adjudicating leadership claims in accordance with legal and procedural frameworks.
The development is likely to have implications for the party’s organisational structure and its political operations, particularly in relation to recently elected representatives and ongoing electoral matters. The matter remains under close observation by both party officials and the broader political establishment.
