ISLAMABAD: In what appears to be an embarrassment for former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has de-listed his political party over its failure to hold intra-party elections.
A three-member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the case involving the non-conduct of intra-party elections of Pakistan Justice and Democratic Party (PJDP) on Thursday.
No one from the defence side appeared for representation.
The bench observed that several opportunities were given to the said political party for explaining its stance over not holding the intra-party elections but the political party did not represent its case.
The bench then directed that the enlistment of PJDP with the ECP be cancelled.
The development implied that PJDP stood de-listed as a lawful political entity recognised by the ECP, and that its name was being removed from the list of political parties enlisted with the ECP.
Chaudhry, the ex-CJP, had launched the PJDP in December 2015. It was enlisted with the ECP with Chaudhry as its President.
Since its inception, the PJDP apparently failed to attract public support, and its existence remained reduced to official documentation instead of wielding any presence on the ground.
The Section 208(1) of the Elections Act 2017 provides that the office-bearers of a political party at the federal, provincial and local levels, wherever applicable, shall be elected periodically in accordance with the constitution of the political party: Provided that a period, not exceeding five years, shall intervene between any two elections.
In accordance with the Section 202(1) of the Elections Act, 2017, a political party, within 30 days of its formation, is required to apply to the ECP for its enlistment.
The application for enlistment shall be accompanied by a copy of the constitution of the political party, the intra-party elections certificate, a copy of consolidated statement of its accounts, a list of at least 2,000 members, and proof of deposit of 200,000 rupees in ECP’s favour in the government treasury as the enlistment fee, as required under the Section 202(2).
The Section 202(5) provides that if an enlisted political party fails to file the required documents within the stipulated time, the ECP shall cancel the enlistment of the said political party “after affording an opportunity of being heard to that political party.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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