ISLAMABAD, FEB 01 (DNA) – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday reserved its verdict regarding MQM-P’s request to have the party’s membership restored.

The ECP had asked the country’s 352 registered political parties to submit copies of the National Identity Card of at least 2,000 of their workers as well as Rs200,000 in fees.

On Dec 26, the ECP had issued show-cause notices to 317 political parties, including MQM-P, for not providing the commission with the information it sought in accordance with the Elections Act, 2017. On January 12, the MQM-P, along with 283 other parties, was de-listed by the ECP.

A four-member bench of the commission heard arguments presented by the party’s lawyer, Faroogh Naseem, before reserving its verdict today. MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar was also present in the court for the hearing.

“We have appeared here in relation to an appeal against the [ECP’s] decision to delist the MQM-P,” the lawyer said as he began his arguments.

He recalled that the ECP had issued notices on October 20 and November 14 to political parties to comply with the formalities under the Elections Act 2017.

He added that on December 26, the commission had sent out show-cause notices, calling on the parties to file their responses within 15 days.

“The deadline expires on January 10. On January 11, we appeared in the ECP and sought five days to file the details of party workers from all over the country,” the lawyer said, adding that the party was denied its request.

“On January 12, the ECP refused to receive details from us.” A petition was then filed in the ECP, he said.

He requested that the details being provided by the MQM-P be accepted and the party’s registration be restored.

“The law was new, our mistake should be forgiven,” the lawyer added.

“MQM-P is the fourth largest party in the country,” Naseem pointed out. He that the ECP had made the right move by de-listing parties that were not genuine, maintaining that the MQM-P is a genuine party.

The commission reserved its verdict on the MQM-P’s request after hearing the lawyer’s arguments and is expected to announce its decision later today.