ISLAMABAD: PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar on Thursday said the current leadership of the party was illegal and cannot claim to represent PTI as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last month gave a decision against the party’s election, and it was endorsed by the Supreme Court.

       Mr Babar made these remarks while speaking at a news conference after hosting a national conference of founding members and former leaders of the PTI.

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       He said according to the ECP decision, bank accounts cannot be operated by the current leaders of PTI and announced his intention to approach the ECP over the issue. “We have decided to contact workers and hand over the party to them. We will make the PTI an institution.”

       While responding to questions, he stated that workers would decide who would lead the party. He mentioned that the Supreme Court had asked PTI leaders if they had any proof that he (Mr Babar) was expelled from the party, but PTI “could not provide any evidence”.

       Party spokesperson accuses Akbar Babar of hatching conspiracies

       “Moreover, I am the founding president of Balochistan, Saeedullah Khan Niazi is the founding president of Punjab, and the same is the case with Imran Khan; he is the founding chairman of the PTI. There is a vacuum of leadership in the party, and it has to be filled democratically according to the constitution of the party and Pakistan,” he said.

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       While passing a resolution, the conference termed the recent judgement of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the PTI intra-party election case as a historic first.

       PTI’s reaction

       Meanwhile, the PTI spokesperson lashed out at Mr Babar, alleging that he was “hatching another conspiracy under state patronage” after stripping PTI of its electoral symbol of “bat.”

       He said that Mr Babar’s activity spoke volumes about the bafflement and nervousness of his patrons, and it was a clear sign of their defeated mindset.

       The spokesperson claimed that Mr Babar had always been used by undemocratic forces for personal interests, and his life’s purpose was to be used for conspiracies against the constitution and democracy.

       Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2024