PTI intra-party polls: EC members say interference forced them to resign

The insider said interference from Jahangir Khan Tareen, Chaudhry Sarwar and Aleem Khan compelled them to resign

PESHAWAR:

Members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s election commission (EC) decided to resign due to interference from the central leadership, an insider privy to the development told The Express Tribune.

On March 26, PTI’s chief election commissioner, Tasneem Noorani, along with other EC members tendered their resignations. It was believed Noorani developed differences with PTI chief Imran Khan.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, the insider said interference from Jahangir Khan Tareen, Chaudhry Sarwar and Aleem Khan compelled the election commissioner and his team members to resign. “All these leaders wanted to appoint their friends and relatives on key posts,” he said. “As a result, they repeatedly pressurised members of the EC and interfered with their work.”

According to the insider, the EC members wanted to conduct polls in a free and fair manner and not give in to external pressure from party members. “However, these leaders wanted to elect their own candidates.”

Brigadier (retd) Samson Simon Sharaf, a former member of the party’s election commission, told The Express Tribune a particular group within PTI wanted to appoint their own people on key posts. “Tasneem Noorani wanted to conduct free and fair elections for all seats,” he said.

On the flipside

When contacted, a central leader of PTI told The Express Tribune the EC has accused the party’s central members of excessive interference. “The PTI chief demanded [evidence from the EC] causing them to resign,” he said.

PTI provincial election commission member Advocate Sabra told The Express Tribune former members of the EC also urged the party’s K-P EC commissioner, Rustam Shah Mohmand, to submit his resignation. “However, he did not,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st,  2016.