KARACHI: As nomination papers continue to be filed, even Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) - which has projected itself as one of the most internally-democratic parties - seems to be vulnerable to fissures that develop as a result of wrangling over party tickets.
While talking to The Express Tribune, a senior leader from PTI who has “lost all hope” to get his party’s ticket for a provincial assembly seat said that new faces in Sindh have sidelined those who have been working for the party for a long period of time.
He said on the condition of anonymity that most of the new members who joined the party in October 10 last year have sidelined even the founding leaders of the party in the province. He said PTI’s founding members, including Dawa Khan Sabir, Subhan Ali Sahil, Advocate Sajjad Ali Khan and Inayat Khattak have submitted their nomination papers on PS-93, NA-239, PS-89 and PS-128 respectively. All the constituencies fall in Karachi.
“These candidates won’t get the party tickets. You’ll see. PTI’s provincial general secretary Hafeezuddin and his blue-eyed boys have submitted their nomination papers on these constituencies.” Hafeezuddin, who joined PTI last year, is a member of the provincial parliamentary board which recommends nominees for party tickets.
The leader claimed that the party will ruin its chances of winning seats as the parliamentary committee is mulling over names that are unheard of in constituencies instead of the men who have been campaigning in them for over a decade. “How would people respond if outsiders come and ask them for a vote? People in these areas don’t vote for you if you don’t attend the funerals in their neighbourhoods.”
Hafeezuddin himself has submitted his nomination papers for NA-239 which falls in Keamari and NA-241 which covers Landhi. He has also submitted forms for PS-92 and PS-89.
On his part, Hafeezuddin told The Express Tribune that some people are just not happy no matter what decision the party takes. “Objections from people will never end. The party’s leadership will soon decide who to allot tickets.” He added that the board has given their recommendations to the central parliamentary board and PTI will conduct a meeting on the tickets issue today. According to Hafeezuddin, with a few exceptions, PTI is contesting election on all the national and provincial seats of Karachi.
Dawa Khan Sabir, one of the men named by the anonymous PTI leader, has been striving for the party since 1996 when he was just 18 years old. If granted the party ticket, Khan will contest the elections on PS-93 - which falls in SITE - against Bashir Jan, the general secretary of ANP’s Sindh division and Jamaat-e-Islami’s Abdur Razaq. ANP leader Ameer Nawab won the seat in the last general elections. “I have submitted my nomination paper but the ticket has not yet been allotted by the party,” said Sabir. He refused to give further comments on the matter.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2013.
COMMENTS (12)
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Maybe some people need to look up on how democracy and democratic political parties work.
So if someone criticize PTI its yellow journalism and whatever. Can anyone give Dawa Khan Sabir his years of service back? Obviously he did not waste his time for some "Electable Heavy Weight" to show up in the last round and run for elections from his home town after he had his chance with other parties. Movement of Justice should provide Justice.
The facade of PTI is fizzling out very fast.
Not everyone that works for a political party is rewarded instantly. If and when PTI gains influence through the elections, they can always reward these individuals later. There are not enough seats for every party member to have one. Some sacrifices have to be made in any political battle.
I have complete trust in IK, since he is himself conducting the scrutiny of candidates. I am sure he will give tickets on merit.So no worries when IK is there.
We want change and we just need IK...we the youth of pakistan don't believe in old or New,we just believe in PTI
We want change and we just need IK...IK is the only option for us(youth of pakistan)
I lived in SITE are of metro vile for al most 4 years..PS 93 is the seat which covers this area..Population consists of 50 percent pakhtoons and rest majority are of Punjabis..hazara waaals and urdu speaking..this is a 100 percent sure seat for PTI...only the candidate should be from the area and strong..huge silent majority vote bank for PTI..I am telling you on the ground facts..
Office holders were ELECTED
People who can't win party elections can't win general elections.
PTI has clear procedure for ticket recommendations.
ET never mentioned that people who are deciding tickets are ELECTED by the party workers.
ET is best example of yellow journalism in Pakistan which is targeting Imran Khan and PTI since the very beginning. ET pointing out all the evils in the world in PTI conveniently and is blind towards ill practices and corruption with in the right winged parties e.g. PMLN and its allies. We believe that ET has an agenda and that agenda is to write against PTI.
ET, get a life. Seriously.