Political procrastination: PTI to delay intra-party elections

Says party MP examining a number of issues before the intra-party elections can be conducted.

ISLAMABAD: In defiance of a tribunal recommendation to hold intra-party elections within a period of three months, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders have said it would not be able to do so until December 2015.

“We are unable to hold intra-party elections this year. We still have a lot of work to do,” a senior party leader told The Express Tribune.

“Hold the intra-party elections within a period of three months in such manner that the new office-bearers stand elected within that period of three months,” reads the tribunal’s order.

Naeemul Haq, on behalf of PTI chief Imran Khan, wrote to the tribunal head Justice Wajihuddin on March 13 and stated that “the chairman requests the tribunal to consider granting an extension for holding the intra-party elections.”

Citing the extraordinary political circumstances over the last six months, Haq said, the chairman feels it is not possible for the party leadership to start preparations for holding the intra-party elections in the light of your judgment and the Tasneem Noorani report.”

Party leaders also stated that MNA Dr Arif Alvi is currently examining a number of issues which need to be addressed before the intra-party elections can commence. The party still has to prepare and finalise the voters list of PTI members, they admitted.

“Party legal brains are also working on the impending changes within the PTI constitution,” said MNA Alvi. These issues require further time to be addressed satisfactorily, he added.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan has expressed hope that the new Chief Election Commissioner Tasneem Noorani will work independently and added that all party resources are at his full disposal for the implementation of free and fair elections. “There is consensus on Tasneem Noorani, who has credibility within the party, as CEC, especially after the excellent work he carried out in the Noorani report,” Imran tweeted.

Meanwhile Imran has also requested that Justice Wajihuddin reconsider his decision pertaining to the issuance of a show-cause notice to his party’s secretary general Jahangir Tareen.

“The chairman has requested that the tribunal reconsider its decision to issue a show cause notice to Jahangir Tareen—the impression that Jahangir Tareen attempted to undermine the work of the Tribunal is not correct. A full implementation of the Tribunal's decision of 17 October 2014 was put on hold at the request of the Chairman who along with the entire party leadership was totally preoccupied with the Dharna,” Haq wrote to the tribunal on March 18.

The tribunal in its finding states that Tareen, being the chief executive of the party “failed to implement our Order, may be also, for mala fide reasons. Tareen is, accordingly, required through the order to show cause, within 7 days, as to why his basic membership should not be taken away.  Acting on this principle, we require all concerned to make fortnightly reports to us on the progress each functionary is required to make.”

Haq further wrote that Tareen's interaction with the tribunal as secretary general remained very limited and was with full knowledge and approval of the chairman. On few occasions when he did contact the tribunal, it was to seek clarity on certain issues which were relevant to the functioning of PTI, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2015.