PTI eyes ‘simpler’ intra-party poll structure

Some party leaders fear the elections will be turned into a ceremonial exercise

ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) may once have taken pride in its intra-party elections structure but the party’s founding fathers now appear to be realising bitter political realities.

PTI has now decided to amend its ‘overly complicated’ constitution in a bid to ‘simplify’ it. However, some believe these amendments will pave the way for making the party’s forthcoming intra-party elections a ceremonial exercise.

Background discussions with a number of senior party leaders revealed that members of the PTI intra-party elections committee have been asked to suggest ‘workable’ amendments to the party constitution to make it ‘less complicated’.



The proposed amendments – yet to be endorsed by Imran, the sole authority to approve changes to the PTI constitution – will reduce holding elections from existing five basic tiers to three tiers – that is district, provincial and federal levels – only.

Unlike the past, candidates will contest elections though panels rather than as individuals.

“The panels will be announced at all district, provincial and federal levels and registered members will exercise their right to vote to a whole panel rather an individual,” a senior member of the intra-party elections committee told The Express Tribune. He said the PTI’s electoral college comprises over 2.3 million registered members and holding elections through panels system would make the process easier.



The Political Parties Ordinance 2002 – which binds every political party to hold intra-party elections every four years – also requires for holding elections at three tiers.

“Keeping in mind the adverse outcome of the last intra-party elections held in 2012, senior leadership is of the view that the party constitution should be made in accordance with simple requirements laid down by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for intra-party elections,” he added.

Recently appointed PTI Central information Secretary Shafqat Mehmood rejected the impression that drastic changes would be introduced to the party constitution. He said the current constitution was ‘interim’ and that efforts were under way to devise a mechanism for the next intra-party polls.



“It [the new mechanism] will be more democratic than that of any other political party of the country,” Mehmood said, adding that every party member would have a say in upcoming elections. He said PTI Chief Election Commissioner Senator Azam Swati will announce the mechanism in the coming days.

Another member of the elections committee said a ‘basic idea’ was already given in the party constitution but discussions were in progress over how to operationalise it to make it ‘less cumbersome and less time-consuming’ for party workers and middle-tier leaders. He said the intra-party elections would not be as symbolic as those of other mainstream political parties and would be in line with constitutional demands.