The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in a statement on Friday said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is not eligible to be issued a election symbol in the upcoming general elections as it has failed to hold intra-party elections.

ECP cited that PTI has failed to conduct intra-party elections as per Sections 11 and 12 of Political Parties Ordinance, 2002.

Therefore, according to the Section 14 of the same act, PTI is no longer eligible for "allotment of election symbol in the ensuing elections", the statement added.

Read more: Delay in intra-party polls puts PTI in deep crises

PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry told DawnNews, "Under the law, the ECP must issue a notice to a political party before taking any such measures."

Its refusal to issue PTI an election symbol shows "malafide intentions", Chaudhry said, adding the final plan for the intra-party polls will be announced after deliberation in a party meeting tomorrow.

Earlier, it was reported that the PTI core committee had postponed intra-party elections owing to the ongoing Panama Leaks case in the Supreme Court. The committee wanted to hold intra-party polls after general elections in 2018.