The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday fixed the petitions against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) intra-party polls for hearing on Friday (tomorrow).

Eleven petitioners, including PTI’s founding member Akbar S Babar, who later developed differences with its leadership, had challenged the party’s intra-party elections.

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, Babar requested that the former ruling party should not be allowed to use “cricket bat” as its electoral symbol until it held transparent intra-party polls.

He urged the commission to appoint an independent third-party monitor to conduct the PTI’s fresh intra-party polls.

Babar termed the PTI’s intra-party elections mere “pretence and deception”.

He added that the “fraudulent” election process had deprived the PTI members of their right to vote and participate in the polls.

Babar further contended that the PTI had not disclosed the rules and regulations of the intra-party polls; their schedule and procedure; and time for the submission of nomination papers.

The report of the intra-party election results was submitted to the ECP by PTI Chief Election Commissioner Niazullah Niazi.

The election supervisor was provided with the report on the intra-party poll results of the PTI central and provincial organizations.

Later talking to the media, Babar requested that the results of the PTI’s intra-party elections should be declared null and void.

He added that there was no other option but to approach the ECP for justice.

Babar also submitted the footage and other evidence to the commission along with his application.

The PTI held its intra-party polls on Saturday on the directives of the commission, with its chief Imran Khan nominating Barrister Gohar Ali Khan for the post of the party’s new chairman following which he was elected to the slot.

Babar announced that he would challenge the PTI’s intra-party elections in court, describing them as a “selection”.

In a statement, Babar said the nomination of the new PTI chairman had raised serious questions about the transparency and credibility of the entire intra-party election process.

He continued that a party, which championed transparency and a level playing field in the national elections, was shying away from allowing its activists an equal opportunity to elect its leadership without interference and manipulation.

As per the party’s rules, its national council was supposed to conduct the elections, but no formal meeting of the body was held.