Intra-party polls: Four-way race for PTI president slot expected

Bigwigs throw weight behind candidates such as Shaukat Yousafzai, Murad Saeed

PESHAWAR:

Rifts in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have led to a four-way race for the party’s president slot in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Candidates supported by PTI stalwarts Jehangir Tareen, Saifullah Niazi, Fauzia Kasuri and Muniza Hassan are likely to face off in intra-party elections scheduled for April 25. However, officials from the election commission of the party have stated no one will be allowed to “group” behind a candidate.

The big four

A PTI official, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune on Sunday four candidates, including MPA Shaukat Yousafzai, PTI provincial coordinator Fazal Muhammad Khan, former PTI general secretary Khalid Masood and K-P chief minister’s son-in-law Imran Khattak, would contest polls for the position of provincial president.



From the women’s wing, four candidates will contest the post of party president, while two will be in the running for PTI’s youth seat. He said MPA Zareen Zia, Neelam Toru, Nadia Sher and Noreen Ibrahim would compete for the women’s president slot.

He added MNA Murad Saeed and Ilyas Khalil would be in the running for the youth president seat.

Betting on the right wo/man

According to the insider, Niazi was backing Yousafzai, Masood and Fazal Muhammad, while Tareen was supporting Imran Khattak. He pointed out Pervez was supporting his son-in-law Imran Khattak, while K-P Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser was favouring Fazal Muhammad.

Nadia Sher and Noreen Ibrahim had Hassan’s support, and Zia had Toru Kasuri’s.

The official also said consultations have been under way on the matter.



Recently the CM met Khalid Masood to discuss issues regarding intra-party polls. Talking to The Express Tribune, Fazal Muhammad said it was still not confirmed which party members planned to contest elections.

“Everyone has the right to be in the running.” According to Fazal Muhammad, “Every PTI worker and member knows who will be the right candidate because everyone can see the work these potential candidates do for the party and the people.”

However, Fazal Muhammad denied any backdoor lobbying. “It will all be clear in the end.”

In full swing

He told The Express Tribune elections will take place on April 25, while preparations for intra-party elections were under way.

Preparations for polls are meant to be completed within 45 days, he said. PTI introduced a new bulk registration system for the elections which would be held on the provincial, district and regional levels.

The party’s election commission coordinator in K-P, Zafarullah Khan, confirmed several candidates have shown an interest in contesting intra-party elections. However, he said, nominations have not been made as yet.

Expanding on the idea of “groupings” within the party, Zafarulah said, “Individually a candidate can ask for votes but there will be no [space for groups].”

He added the party was trying to do more to eliminate rigging and grouping.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th,  2016.