ECP sets March 14 deadline for PML-N intra-party polls.

ISLAMABAD -- The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday gave another 'last chance' to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to hold long overdue intra-party elections, setting March 14 as the new deadline.

A five-member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, while hearing the case, gave over two months to the party which sought less than three weeks' time for the exercise.

At the outset of the proceedings, PML-N counsel Ahsan Jahangir informed the commission that the intra-party polls could not take place due to enormous engagements of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who was occupied with a number of responsibilities since becoming the prime minister.

ECP member from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa retired Justice Ikramullah Khan said the commission had been reminding the party for a long time to hold party elections. ECP member from Punjab Babar Bharwana said the electoral symbol of the party would be withdrawn if elections were not held by Jan 31.

The PML-N counsel sought time till Jan 31 to ensure compliance with the commission's order. Mr Jahangir said the party would do the needful and requested the commission not to withdraw the symbol of the party.

CEC Raja remarked that a person who was so busy that he could not hold intra-party elections should not be...