PTI elects new UK, Ireland leadership

LONDON: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has successfully elected a new body in the United Kingdom and Ireland.Around 5,000 members of the PTI, who pay a membership fees of £36 every month, took part in the election process for various regions spread over two days. The PTI is arguably the only Pakistani political party in Britain which has paid members.
From London Asim Khan’s panel has won the election, Rana Ejaz’s panel has won from East Of England, Anwarul Haq’s panel has won from South East, Naeem-ur-Rehman has won from West Midlands, Ali Sher from Southwest, Mohammad Amin, Basharat Saleem Aslam Bhutta, Abdul Basit Shah, Riaz Hassan, Farooq Afzal Sheikh, Mohammad Ishraq and Abdullah Saghir’s panels have also won in their respected regions.
Along with presidents each region has also an elected vice president, general secretary and an information secretary as well.Newly elected PTI London President Asim khan termed these elections as historic. He told The News: “It is another step towards making PTI a strong institution. We will be working tirelessly to strengthen the party and channelise energies towards betterment of Pakistan.”
The PTI UK is the first chapter of PTI that initiated intra-party elections three years back and has now set a benchmark for all other parties that operate overseas but don’t hold elections.A party spokesman told The News: “It is remarkable that all winning and runners up panels have pledged their support to each other to work in harmony together for the cause. The intra-party elections concept introduced by PTI in the politics of Pakistan has been evolving and improving despite the reported issues in the first intra-party elections in UK three years ago and it is envisaged that this will set benchmarks for other parties to follow as well.”
Dr Humayun Mohmand, Secretary International Chapters PTI, oversaw the election process. He said in a statement: “A special acknowledgement for Mo Iqbal, (Head finance board UK) and his team and the election commission officials, Ali Tajik, Muhammad Touseef and Muhammad Waqas Bashir. our work is never complete, building a stronger Pakistan is an endeavor that requires a sustained, committed and focused effort, with utmost integrity, honesty and passion. I am sure the new presidents, election contestants and members will continue and build on the work, our colleagues have already done, under the visionary leadership of Imran Khan and will continue to be the backbone of our beloved country.”