Under ECP microscope, PTI to hold intra-party polls today

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has given ‘finishing touches’ to its preparations for intra-party polls on the directives of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The polls are scheduled today (Saturday).

However, till the filing of this report in the evening, it was not clear whether the party polls would be held or not.

“We have to move forward carefully in the light of treatment meted out to our party,” said a party member while talking to this correspondent.

He expressed ignorance about the venue of the proposed elections.

A party spokesperson claimed that this development was a clear sign of the party’s unshakable commitment to democracy and unwavering belief in the rule of law.

He said the PTI’s founding chairman Imran Khan was the main torchbearer of democracy among the political parties, which was evident from his incessant and relentless efforts to introduce, inculcate and strengthen democratic values and norms in the party.

He reiterated that the PTI also held intra-party elections last year according to the law; however, in order to set a great example of respect for the law, the party decided to hold the intra-party election again.

He emphasized that Imran had buried the traditional hereditary and family-limited politics and set a great example of democracy by nominating a hard-working, loyal and capable worker of the party for the slot of the party chairman.

According to the party sources, it was still undecided whether the polls would be conducted in Islamabad or Peshawar.

Meanwhile, the party Friday started receiving nomination papers for the intra-party elections. Accordingly, Imran Khan’s nominated candidate for chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan submitted his nomination papers, which were received by the returning officer Sardar Masroof Khan, Advocate.

Senior party leader Ahmed Owais proposed Gohar, whereas PTI Information Secretary Raoof Hasan was his seconder.

Chief Election Commissioner PTI Niazullah Niazi Advocate was also present on the occasion.

In a related development, PTI founding member and ex-central leader Akbar Sher Babar made a surprise visit to the PTI’s central secretariat here after 13 years along with some other old party members.

Talking to the media, Babar said he had asked for three things from the Central Secretariat staff present on the occasion, copies of nomination papers, voter lists and methodology of the electoral process but in response got nothing. “One of the secretariat representatives said we have nothing here to share with you. We think that old people will be back once again,” Babar quoted one PTI Central Secretariat staff member as saying.