The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has formally refused to recognise Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as the chairperson of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The commission issued this response to a letter from Gohar Ali Khan, who had requested official acknowledgement for independent senators affiliated with PTI.
This ruling forced PTI candidates to contest the February 8, 2024, general elections as independents. Following the elections, 80 successful independent candidates joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to claim reserved seats. However, the ECP refused this allocation, prompting a separate legal challenge.
A significant turn occurred on July 12, 2024. A full Supreme Court bench, by a majority, effectively resurrected PTI as a parliamentary party. The court noted that 39 lawmakers had already submitted PTI affiliation certificates. It allowed the remaining 41 lawmakers to submit theirs within 15 days.
بیرسٹر گوہر علی خان نہیں رہے (PTI کے چئیرمین) 😂
الیکشن کمیشن نے PTI کے انٹرا پارٹی الیکشن ماننے سے انکار کرتے ہوئے بیرسٹرو گوہر کو PTI کا چئیرمین ماننے سے انکار کر دیا ہے 😂
PTI بطور پارٹی بھی الیکشن کمیشن تسلیم نہیں کر رہا 😂 pic.twitter.com/TZvHALPu2k
— C0L SHER KHAN ™️ (@C0LSHERKHAN) December 7, 2025The ruling coalition responded to the Supreme Court’s July decision by filing a review petition. The Supreme Court’s Constitutional Bench began hearing this review petition in May, adding another layer to the complex litigation.
Therefore, the ECP’s latest refusal operates within this unsettled legal context. The pending intra-party case and the Supreme Court review together create an environment where the commission is withholding formal recognition of the party’s leadership.
This ongoing dispute highlights significant challenges within Pakistan’s political and electoral governance. The situation creates uncertainty around parliamentary party operations and internal party democracy.
