ECP Orders MQM-P to Conduct Intra-Party Elections by October 15
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has directed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) to hold its intra-party elections by October 15. This directive was issued by a three-member bench led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, rejecting the party's request for a 90-day extension. Barrister Farogh Naseem, representing MQM-P, argued that the electoral list compilation was in its final stages and sought more time until December. However, ECP’s Director General of Political Finance, Masood Sherwani, highlighted a history of delays, noting that the party was originally supposed to hold elections in January, with subsequent extensions granted until March. Sherwani pointed out that MQM-P's last intra-party elections occurred in October 2021, making the next due in 2025 under their legal framework. Despite a previous resolution extending the current tenure and setting a new deadline of March 2026, the commission enforced the October deadline. This ruling follows a previous hearing in April where the ECP dismissed requests for further delays regarding the appearance of party chairman Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.
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ECP Orders MQM-P to Conduct Intra-Party Elections by October 15
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has directed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) to hold its intra-party elections by October 15. This directive was issued by a three-member bench led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, rejecting the party's request for a 90-day extension. Barrister Farogh Naseem, representing MQM-P, argued that the electoral list compilation was in its final stages and sought more time until December. However, ECP’s Director General of Political Finance, Masood Sherwani, highlighted a history of delays, noting that the party was originally supposed to hold elections in January, with subsequent extensions granted until March. Sherwani pointed out that MQM-P's last intra-party elections occurred in October 2021, making the next due in 2025 under their legal framework. Despite a previous resolution extending the current tenure and setting a new deadline of March 2026, the commission enforced the October deadline. This ruling follows a previous hearing in April where the ECP dismissed requests for further delays regarding the appearance of party chairman Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.
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