ECP gives PML-N two months to hold intra-party elections.

The Election Commission of Pakistan on Thursday directed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz - a major partner of the ruling coalition - to hold intra-party elections by March 14.

A five-member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja, heard a case regarding the intra-party elections of political parties.

According to Section 208 of the Elections Act, all political parties are required to elect office-bearers at the federal, provincial and local levels, wherever applicable, periodically in accordance with the Constitution of the respective political party.

'Provided that a period, not exceeding five years, shall intervene between any two elections,' a proviso to section 208(1) of the act reads.

Under the law, a political party was also required to publish the updated list of its central office-bearers and executive committee members, by whatever name called, on its website and send the list and any subsequent change in it to the election commission.

At the outset of the hearing, PML-N counsel Ahsan Jahangir informed the commission that the intra-party polls had been delayed as Shehbaz Sharif was occupied with a...