PM orders PTI's structure strengthened ahead of LG polls

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday directed effective steps to further strengthen the organisational structure of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) across the country ahead of local bodies elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The premier also advised PTI leaders for activating the party workers effectively for success in the upcoming local government elections.

He expressed these views during a meeting with Minister for Planning and General Secretary PTI, Asad Umar.

Other office bearers of the party including K-P president Pervez Khattak, Punjab chief Shafqat Mahmood, South Punjab president Makhdoom Khusru Bakhtiar, Sindh president Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, Balochistan's head Qasim Khan Suri and Additional General Secretary PTI Aamir Mahmood Kiyani among other attended the meeting.

Late last month, PM Imran announced new organisational structure of PTI, a day after he dissolved all previous bodies over dismal performance of his party in the first phase of local government elections in K-P.

Also read: PTI gears up for second phase of LG polls in K-P

He appointed Asad Umar as the new PTI secretary-general and named other top party leaders as the chiefs as the provincial chiefs of the party.

On the same day, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had disclosed that the premier had disbanded the entire party structure and removed all officer-bearers after evaluating their performance in the first phase of the K-P local government elections.

In the elections held on December 19, the JUI-F clinched 15 seats, the ruling party secured eight seats while the Awami National Party (ANP) won six seats. PTI’s stronghold Peshawar also fell to JUI-F as the party clinched the mayor’s seat.

According to the intra-party inquiry, PTI lost the polls due to internal differences, inflation, and the lack of support for its candidates from some of its MNAs.

The second phase of the election is scheduled to take place on March 27 in K-P.