In a fresh development, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) intra-party elections have once again come under scrutiny.
Self-proclaimed founding member of PTI Akbar S. Babar lodged a formal challenge with the Election Commission, demanding the annulment of the recently concluded elections.
Babar, speaking to the media, expressed disappointment over the alleged disregard for the rights of party workers in the election process.
"We were hopeful that the party would prioritise the rights of its workers, but unfortunately, that did not happen," he lamented.
Babar stressed that the refusal to acknowledge the mandate of the party's workers reflects a concerning trend, particularly from a party that often raises concerns about electoral rigging.
Highlighting his exclusion from the intra-party election proceedings, Babar emphasized that he was deliberately sidelined. He refuted claims made in a press release on February 2, which suggested his departure from the party.
The latest challenge to PTI's intra-party elections comes hot on the heels of the announcement of results on March 3, where Barrister Gohar clinched the position of Chairman unopposed, while Umar Ayub secured the position of General Secretary.
It's worth noting that PTI's intra-party elections faced previous setbacks when the Election Commission of Pakistan nullified them ahead of the general elections, leading to the withdrawal of the party's election symbol, the bat.
Consequently, PTI candidates participated in the elections as independents. However, the attempt to form alliances post-election has faced hurdles, with the Election Commission rejecting requests from PTI members who won as independents to join the Sunni Etihad Council in a bid to secure specific seats.