ECP removes MQM-P chief's name after expiry of intra-party election term

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has removed Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui’s name as the head of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) from its website following the expiry of the party’s intra-party election period.

According to the ECP website, the name of the office-bearer is no longer mentioned against MQM-P in the Political Parties section.

ECP sources said the names of party heads are removed from the website after the expiry of the period for holding intra-party elections. The name of the elected party head is updated again after the completion of intra-party elections.

MQM-P was required to hold its intra-party elections by October 15. The party failed to conduct the elections within the stipulated period, following which the ECP also issued a show-cause notice to Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.

Meanwhile, MQM-P has submitted its response to the Election Commission’s show-cause notice.

The response was submitted by the party’s lawyer, Barrister Farogh Naseem.

In its reply, MQM-P explained the reasons for not holding intra-party elections within the prescribed time and assured the commission that the elections would be conducted at the earliest.

Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a show-cause notice to Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) for failing to hold its intra-party elections.

In the notice, the ECP pointed out that MQM-P failed to conduct its internal elections despite being granted an extension until October 15, 2026.

The commission emphasized that regularly electing office-bearers is a legal requirement for all political parties.

Under the Elections Act 2017, conducting intra-party elections is mandatory, and parties are required to submit a compliance certificate within a week of holding the polls.

The ECP has given MQM-P 14 days to respond to the show-cause notice, warning that failure to reply will result in further legal action.

The notice explicitly warned that MQM-P could be deprived of its election symbol if it fails to conduct intra-party elections, which would bar the party from using its symbol in the next general elections.