RAWALPINDI: The ongoing biometric mobile SIM verification will help the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in holding its forthcoming intra-party elections in the country in a transparent manner.

The PTI is set to hold the polls to select its office-bearers through mobile phones. “When a member would be called to cast his votes from the mobile phone number already noted in his party card, his particulars will be recognised by the software installed in the party office. He will be sent options for selection of the new office-bearers,” a senior leader of the party explained.

He said the party was launching a countrywide membership drive from Islamabad on February 25 after which the intra-party elections would be held. The biometric SIM verification would help the party in

“We will issue cards to selective members who can participate in the intra-party elections by casting votes through their mobile phones.” He said only permanent members would be eligible to participate in the intra-party elections. “The party members will be divided into two categories: ordinary and permanent,” he said.

“After the membership drive, the party will develop data at its central office on the basis of which cards will be issued to the members. The permanent members will get messages from the party central office to send their preferences for their local leaders.”

About the criteria for the permanent members, he said there were two proposals. One, the members should manage to bring 50 or more ordinary members to the party during the membership drive and second, they should have actively participated in the sit-in and the 2013 elections. Some people should also verify their performances.

The PTI leader said mostly people did not want to waste their time by taking part in the intra-party elections. The new system would provide them an opportunity to participate in the intra-party elections from their homes or workplaces. It will also help the party in avoiding brawls as was witnessed in March 2013 intra-party elections.

“On February 26, 2013, the intra-party elections in Rawalpindi were stopped by the police after a clash between two groups. After this, the party conducted the intra-party elections at its central office in the presence of the party chief. To save the party from such a situation in future, the decision was taken to adopt a modern way to hold the polls.

He said after the 2013 general elections, grouping within the party also increased. “Political leaders from other parties who joined the PTI also brought with them their supporters, so there would always be chances of clashes between different groups,” he said.

When contacted, PTI Punjab Vice President Raja Tariq Kayani said the party was taking a number of steps for the transparent intra-party elections and would introduce a better system for the selection of the new office-bearers. He said during the last elections, office-bearers at the union council level were held under this system.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2015

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