Organisational matters: PTI looks inwards after local elections

The party is being run by an interim set up after Imran Khan dissolved all party offices in May 2015

LAHORE: After the local government elections, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders are shifting focus towards intra-party elections. Several leaders are vying for the office of Punjab president.

The party has been facing internal rifts ever since an election tribunal, headed by Justice (r) Wajihuddin Ahmed, concluded in its report that the intra-party elections held in 2013 were marred by irregularities. The tribunal had also called for dissolution of elected bodies.

PTI chief Imran Khan had dissolved all party offices in May 2015 and announced the establishment of an interim setup. Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, the former Punjab governor, was made the provincial chief organiser.

Ejaz Chaudhry, who was elected the PTI Punjab president in 2013, said that he was consulting his close aides regarding contesting intra-party elections. “The [intra-party] elections are expected to be announced by the party chief this week. If elections take place, and I hope they do, I shall be contesting,” he said. Chaudhry, who currently holds the designation of political adviser to the PTI chairman, said that the party was currently operating in extraordinary circumstances.



Chaudhry said that the tenure of party office bearers elected in 2013 was to last till March 2018. “However, we accepted the decision of our party’s chairman to dissolve all offices. A caretaker set up was to be brought in to hold intra party elections,” he said. The decision to hold intra party elections, he said, had been put on hold earlier till the conclusion of local government elections. Chaudhry said that he would only run for provincial president.

Sarwar has also expressed the desire to contest the intra-party election. Like Chaudhry, Sarwar is consulting ‘friends’ in the party.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Sarwar said that he would make a final decision after the formal announcement of the intra-party elections by the party. “For now, I am strongly considering contesting for the slot,” he said. “As per the initial decision, my interim stint ended on December 5,” he said. He said that it was vital to ensure a level playing field for all candidates. “We cannot engage in what we have been accusing our political rivals of during local elections…these elections will be transparent,” he said. The PTI’s top leadership is gathering in Islamabad to discuss the results of the local government polls on Monday (today) in Islamabad. A decision regarding intra-party elections is also expected. Both Sarwar and Chaudhry are participating in the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th,  2015.