A woman casting vote at a polling station in Swat. PHOTO: EXPRESS
DERA ISMAIL KHAN/ SWAT/ PESHAWAR:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced the results for intra-party polls at various parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa late Saturday.
Firing in DI Khan
Two persons were arrested for aerial firing soon after the announcement of the poll results in DI Khan. Police said Abdur Rehman and Imran Khan were arrested for firing in the air in celebration after Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur was elected the party president from the area, at Auditorium Hall.
Police booked all three men under relevant laws. They also recovered a 30-pistol pistol, seven bullets, one AK-47 and 18 bullets from the arrested men.
Station House Officer Iqbal Khan explained the two persons were arrested for firing in the air. He added that though Gandapur was not firing but he was booked as being responsible for his supporters’ actions.
Following the announcement of Gandapur’s victory, his supporters went out of the hall and blocked a road. Some of them started firing, a local journalist, Shakir Khan, told The Express Tribune.
As many as 182 office bearers of PTI were elected from the seven districts: Kohat, Hangu, Lakki Marwatt, Tank, Bannu, Karrack and DI Khan.
Gandapur secured 112 votes and was elected as president. Next up, Muhammad Khalid Awan secured 60 votes while Malik Farid Azam Khattak secured two votes.
Despite repeated attempts on his cell phone, Gandapur could not be contacted.
Proceedings in Swat
Meanwhile, divisional office bearers of PTI Malakand Division were elected in Mingora.
Nek Mohammad was elected as the divisional president and Sher Shah Khan as general secretary.
Similarly, Fakhar Jahan and Mohammad Inam were elected as senior vice presidents, Saeed Khan and Abdullah as vice presidents, Tariq Mahmood and Bacha Rawan as joint secretaries, Ameen Jan Khan as labour secretary while Ahmad Shah Khan was elected as traders’ secretary.
In the PTI women wing, Nagina Khan and Naeema Naz were elected as vice presidents for the Malakand Division. A total of 23 candidates out of 28 were elected of the same panel.
Candidates for various positions from the all the seven districts, Chitral, Dir Upper, Dir Lower, Swat, Buner, Shangla and Malakand Agency contested the polls.
According to PTI Election Commission, a total of 478 candidates from across the division including 135 female candidates contested for various seats. “This is the first-ever political party that introduced intra-party elections in the country. We don’t believe in family dynasty politics. Right from union council to the election of party chairmanship, the polls will be held according to the true essence of the democracy,” said Shaukat Yousafzai, provincial leader and former political adviser to the chairman, told local press at the polling station.
People from all walks of life appreciated the newly-introduced culture of the intra-party polls and suggested that all the other political parties should follow suit.
“The PTI has introduced a truly democratic approach which must be followed by the other parties which are ruled by the same families. I congratulate the elders of the PTI for getting the political setup on right track,” Gul Rahim, a social and political activist, said.
Proceedings in Peshawar
Meanwhile, Atif Khan was elected as regional president in Peshawar and Ali Asghar as president for Hazara region.
The polling for regional elections was conducted throughout the province wherein elected members of district and tehsil-level representatives voted for candidates contesting for regional party portfolios.
In Peshawar region, tough compettion was reported between former district Mardan president and member of PTI’s Central Executive Committee Atif Khan and former nationalist leader Hashim Babar who had joined PTI after quitting Awami National Party last year.
Atif won the regional president election, beating Babar with one vote majority. Atif bagged 70 votes while Baber got 69 votes.
The announcement of polling results in Peshawar was delayed when the contesting groups raised objection over the counting of votes which led to the recounting of votes.
Pervaiz Khattak and Shaukat Yousafzai, both candidates for party provincial president and general secretary seats, were supporting Babar whereas Atif Khan was supported by former PTI provincial president Asad Qaiser.
The division elections had particular importance for candidates aiming to contest for party provincial portfolios knowing the fact that members of regional cabinets and district presidents will vote for provincial cabinet.
Fazal Muhammad Khan was elected as PTI Peshawar region general secretary whereas Azizullah Khan and Muhammad Asim Khan were elected vice presidents for Peshawar region.
In Hazara region, Ali Asghar who had the support of Insaf Student Federation and Insaf Youth Wing, won the election by bagging 101 votes.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 25th, 2013.
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who ever was crying that delectables going to take over party must look at peshwar results .. asad qaiser ex dist presidents group won in peshawar!
Congratulation to Elected Members - Lets start full blown election campaign.