Islamabad (HRNW)- The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reserved its decision regarding the intra-party elections of the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) after hearing arguments in the case before a five-member bench headed by the Chief Election Commissioner.
During the hearing, the Special Secretary Political Finance informed the commission that a response to the show-cause notice had been received from the TLP, bearing the signatures of Bilal Qadri, who is registered as the party’s permanent election commissioner.
The commission questioned the authority under which Bilal Qadri had submitted the response and inquired about the identity of the party’s current Ameer and who had authorized the election commissioner.
The Special Secretary stated that the terms of the party’s office-bearers had expired in December 2025, and according to the written response, repeated attempts to hold intra-party elections had failed because party offices had been sealed. He also informed the commission that the TLP is currently a banned organization under a government notification.
During the proceedings, the Chief Election Commissioner questioned the lawyer representing Bilal Qadri regarding his legal authority to appear in the case. The commission noted that a previously designated focal person had already been rejected and sought clarification about the party’s current leadership.
The lawyer stated that although the party has an Ameer, they are not currently in contact with him. He further said that Bilal Qadri was arrested in October 2025 and, after securing bail in June 2026, supervised the party’s intra-party elections.
The Chief Election Commissioner observed that the Election Commission had previously rejected the party’s request for an extension to conduct intra-party elections and asked whether that decision had been challenged before any court. He also questioned why the commission had not been informed 15 days before the elections, as required under the law.
The TLP lawyer acknowledged that the commission had not been notified in advance but urged the Election Commission to recognize the intra-party elections in light of the circumstances.
After hearing the arguments, the Election Commission reserved its verdict on the matter.
It is noteworthy that the Election Commission had also reserved decisions on three related matters on June 17, including objections regarding the legal standing of the party’s former focal person, Raja Amir. The TLP had originally been scheduled to hold its intra-party elections on December 28, 2025, while Raja Amir had previously sought a one-year extension for the electoral process.
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