Intraparty elections: Four gunning for PTI top slot
Fissures in rival camp expected to benefit Sarwar
PTI Punjab leaders. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
LAHORE:
As many as four candidates are in the running for the provincial presidency of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).
The membership drive which will determine the electoral college for the intraparty elections is scheduled to end this week.
Two candidates including former governor Chaudhry Sarwar and MNA Shafqat Mahmood are considered top contenders for the slot.
The two have virtually eclipsed the remaining candidates. These are Muhammad Madni—who contested from the PTI’s platform from NA-119 in the 2013 general elections—and Mian Tariq, the party’s erstwhile Lahore industries secretary.
As preparations for the intraparty elections gained momentum two groups backed by central leaders Jehangir Tareen and Shah Mehmood Qureshi emerged. Sarwar, who announced his candidature at the beginning of the year, was endorsed by the Tareen-backed Unity Group while the Ideological Group threw its weight behind Mahmood.
Madni, the latest contender, announced his candidature much to the chagrin of the Ideological Group which he was previously associated with. He says the decision to name Mahmood as the group’s candidate was not “ideological.” Madni says the group felt that better candidates were available. Party sources claim former PTI Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry had recommended Madni for the top slot. He claims the same.
Hamid Khan, one of the party’s central leaders, says Madni broke a pledge by announcing his candidature.
Khan is still of the opinion that the main competition is between Mahmood and Sarwar.
A candidate-selection committee of the Ideological Group took into consideration as many as seven candidates for the race, he says.
Khan says there was an understanding that all those being considered would support the candidate announced by the committee. “Whoever breaks a commitment usually ends up paying a price,” he says.
Madni scoffs at the criticism. He says his commitment is to the party, its chairman and its ideology. “If you deviate from the ideology you either alter course or no longer remain in a position to complain,” Madni says.
The number of candidates emerging from the Ideological Group, party sources say, is good news for the Unity Group. “The emergence of more than one presidential candidate from the Ideological Group indicates internal fissures which only benefits Sarwar,” they opine.
Meanwhile, former PTI Punjab deputy organiser Omar Cheema says he too will soon announce his candidature. Cheema says his decision has been kept pending till the party’s election commission announces the number of posts and procedure of the intraparty elections. He says a final decision regarding his candidature will come following consultations with his supporters.
On Madni announcing his candidature, Cheema says, every party worker has the right to contest the intraparty elections. “That is the whole point of the exercise,” he says. But the party chairman’s former spokesperson believes there is very little effort being put in by candidates in terms of what they have to offer to the party.
Thought to be the underdog, Tariq claims to be vying for the top slot in a bid to fight against the status quo. He announced his independent candidature while dissociating himself with either of the other groups. “Neither of them is capable enough or sincere. Having money does not naturally qualify one to hold posts,” Tariq says.
The aspiring president also contested the first intraparty elections after which he served as the party’s Lahore industries secretary.
He has been campaigning and claims to have received a good response. Despite the scepticism regarding his candidature, Tariq says he has a fair chance. “I am not scared of losing,” he says.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2016.
As many as four candidates are in the running for the provincial presidency of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).
The membership drive which will determine the electoral college for the intraparty elections is scheduled to end this week.
Two candidates including former governor Chaudhry Sarwar and MNA Shafqat Mahmood are considered top contenders for the slot.
The two have virtually eclipsed the remaining candidates. These are Muhammad Madni—who contested from the PTI’s platform from NA-119 in the 2013 general elections—and Mian Tariq, the party’s erstwhile Lahore industries secretary.
As preparations for the intraparty elections gained momentum two groups backed by central leaders Jehangir Tareen and Shah Mehmood Qureshi emerged. Sarwar, who announced his candidature at the beginning of the year, was endorsed by the Tareen-backed Unity Group while the Ideological Group threw its weight behind Mahmood.
Madni, the latest contender, announced his candidature much to the chagrin of the Ideological Group which he was previously associated with. He says the decision to name Mahmood as the group’s candidate was not “ideological.” Madni says the group felt that better candidates were available. Party sources claim former PTI Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry had recommended Madni for the top slot. He claims the same.
Hamid Khan, one of the party’s central leaders, says Madni broke a pledge by announcing his candidature.
Khan is still of the opinion that the main competition is between Mahmood and Sarwar.
A candidate-selection committee of the Ideological Group took into consideration as many as seven candidates for the race, he says.
Khan says there was an understanding that all those being considered would support the candidate announced by the committee. “Whoever breaks a commitment usually ends up paying a price,” he says.
Madni scoffs at the criticism. He says his commitment is to the party, its chairman and its ideology. “If you deviate from the ideology you either alter course or no longer remain in a position to complain,” Madni says.
The number of candidates emerging from the Ideological Group, party sources say, is good news for the Unity Group. “The emergence of more than one presidential candidate from the Ideological Group indicates internal fissures which only benefits Sarwar,” they opine.
Meanwhile, former PTI Punjab deputy organiser Omar Cheema says he too will soon announce his candidature. Cheema says his decision has been kept pending till the party’s election commission announces the number of posts and procedure of the intraparty elections. He says a final decision regarding his candidature will come following consultations with his supporters.
On Madni announcing his candidature, Cheema says, every party worker has the right to contest the intraparty elections. “That is the whole point of the exercise,” he says. But the party chairman’s former spokesperson believes there is very little effort being put in by candidates in terms of what they have to offer to the party.
Thought to be the underdog, Tariq claims to be vying for the top slot in a bid to fight against the status quo. He announced his independent candidature while dissociating himself with either of the other groups. “Neither of them is capable enough or sincere. Having money does not naturally qualify one to hold posts,” Tariq says.
The aspiring president also contested the first intraparty elections after which he served as the party’s Lahore industries secretary.
He has been campaigning and claims to have received a good response. Despite the scepticism regarding his candidature, Tariq says he has a fair chance. “I am not scared of losing,” he says.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2016.