PTI to hold US-style primaries
In a US-style candidate nomination and ticket-awarding process, PTI aims to introduce local caucuses on district levels throughout the country. Aspiring candidates would undertake debates and undergo primaries to win a party ticket for contesting on Provincial Assembly or National Assembly seats.
PTI will also launch a massive membership drive with the target being four million registered members for their electoral college.
The members of the caucus in turn will send a candidate for national and provincial assembly elections.
The new party constitution, which is still on the drawing board, envisages the details of the local caucuses and Electoral College. At the moment PTI has almost 800,000 basic members.
“No matter, how high-profile a politician is, a ticket is not guaranteed unless the local caucus awards him the nomination,” said Andleeb Abbas, PTI information secretary.
The members of this Electoral College will be picked during the membership drive from every union council of the country.
Meanwhile the much-awaited constitution of the party is being debated by the central executive committee of the party and will be released in two weeks.
The party is also going to launch an Insaf Professional Forum on March 19 in Lahore that would include top professionals from Punjab and it would serve as an advisory board on the technical matters. Moreover, PTI Chairman Imran Khan is going to launch a public contact drive in the south Punjab which would span across three days during which Khan would address public rallies in Mailsi, Muzzaffargarh, Khanewal and Bahawalnagar. On March 23, Khan would address a public rally in Sialkot.
On April 8, the party has planned a big public rally in Abbottabad for which preparations are under way. During the rally Khan is expected to take a position on the formation of Hazara province. The PTI bandwagon is going to Quetta on April 20 for what is billed to be the biggest public gathering thus far.
Details of the rally are being worked out by the committee headed by PTI Balochistan President Qasim Suri.
PTI expects to attract dissident Baloch nationalist leaders to the rally. The party wants to turn this event in Quetta as a major step towards unifying Baloch leaders back into the national fold. To achieve this objective Khan had been in touch with the Baloch leaders and that is why the party has kept postponing its Quetta show.
COMMENTS (24)
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My vote for change, So its a real change
@Sherghazi: Oh come on he is doing his bit to select the most suitable candidates for the elections....what is Americanised in this? You all just need an excuse to have a go at Imran Khan
American Made leader trying to implement US rules slowly, Use of Holy Quran will solve our issues but this man use USA system. We dont need any american system in our society.
this called real revolution a selfless leader who is for the people and by the people
Mureeds of Shah Mehmood Qureshi will definitely elect one of them.
This is CHANGE!
PTI is the only party that can bring such kinda change in Pakistan Stop criticizing haters...Save your country...VOTE PTI
I want this strategy but not on the chairman level.
That is One of the best strategy of PTI. Now lets see how many parties will follow this. Good job PTI. We all are with you.it must be free & fair champaign. We are waiting for Membership.......
Good plan, must be executed!
The current PTI constitution also calls for internal elections. It's never been followed. Let's see if this ever gets off he ground. I'd be really surprised.
This is what PTI stands for........Change and a fresh approach towards issues........
salute to pti for an excellent move towards real democracy. love u pti.
Don't think there is an example of such a thorough and fair candidate selection system anywhere in the Sub-Continent, let alone Pakistan.
The old and ideological worker will also become confident and the reservations of those who think that heavy weight politions r highjecking party will also find answer. In short this is gateway to green revolution. Mirza Kashif 03338116614
A big step in Pakistani politics. This shows a vision of leadership and democratic norms from top to bottom. It will be a historic too.
excellent initiative by pti....
It needs a lot of money to create US-styled primaries. Certainly, PTI has a lot of money, otherwise, US may readily provide that-:)
A great step, not just for Pakistan but, for the whole Indian subcontinent and beyond! I hope people around the neighborhood are wise enough to take the cue. This will lead towards the transparent government.
watch out pti supporters... with nothing better to do and no constructive criticism whatsoever to dish out, anti-pti trolls will find something to criticize in this move too :-)
US-style primaries mean a lot of money will be needed to campaign. Lets see where does the rest of Imran Khan's "inspiration" comes from.
Brilliant Initiative! Finally a step towards Genuine democracy in Pakistan!
Go Go Kaptaan. Pakistan is looking towards you and PTI. Supporter or otherwise, everybody has a hope in you; don't ever disappoint us, please.
One of the best strategy any political party could offer. Now lets see how many parties will follow this. Good job PTI. We all are with you.