Imran wants poll preparations expedited

PM pledges to award tickets to old party workers

ISLAMABAD:

Keen on holding the elections in 90 days amid looming legal uncertainty over the dissolution of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday chaired PTI’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting and directed the party members to expedite the preparations for the snap polls.

In this regard, the meeting approved the formation of a parliamentary board assigned with formulating the party’s policy on distribution of tickets to candidates, sources said.

The current volatile political situation in Punjab also came under discussion during the committee’s meeting.

“The opposition is looking for excuses to escape the field,” the prime minister was quoted as saying during the meeting.Healing rifts?

Interestingly, the prime minister, who has remained defiant in the face of internal revolt and mounting pressures, seemed to be trying to strike a conciliatory tone with estranged factions and heal the festering grievances, particularly in Punjab.

“We will give priority to giving tickets to old party workers,” the prime minister announced during the meeting as he lamented that the coalition government was more susceptible to blackmailing.

He asserted that there was no place in the part for “traitors” who harboured vested interests, adding that sincere and loyal workers would be brought forward.

“We will form a government with a majority of our people,” PM Imran said, adding that he himself would monitor the process of awarding tickets.

Earlier, sources told The Express Tribune that the premier was likely to meet with the disgruntled lawmakers of the party in Punjab as part of its attempts to calm the volatile situation in the province.

It is pertinent to mention here that President of Pakistan Arif Alvi on April 3 dissolved the National Assembly on the advice of PM Imran.

Immediately after Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri ruled to reject the no-trust motion from the opposition parties against Prime Minister Imran Khan over having links with the “foreign conspiracy”, the prime minister announced the dissolution of assemblies in an address to the nation.