PTI intra-party poll: Imran Khan elected chairman with huge margin

E-Paper | May 22, 2026

Imran Khan was elected Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman by a massive margin of votes during the PTI's intra-party poll, according to results announced by the party's spokesperson on Tuesday.

PTI intra-party poll results:

PTI vice chairman: Shah Mahmood Qureshi
PTI secretary-general: Jahangir Tareen
Central Punjab president: Aleem Khan
Sindh chapter president: Arif Alvi
Balochistan chapter president: Yar Muhammad Rind
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa south president: Ali Amin Gandapur

Khan, who was chairing the Insaf panel, earned 189,055 votes whereas the rival Ehtesab panel secured 41,647 votes. Around 26,256 votes were rejected.

Party workers cast a total of 256,957 votes during the two-day polling process.

PTI Chief Election Commissioner Azam Swati earlier told Dawn that the party was holding its intra-party election in a hurry to regain its election symbol of 'bat' from the ECP as the 2018 General Election draws nearer.

PTI Spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry told DawnNews that the party had submitted the results of the intra-party polls to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Earlier, the PTI Election Commission re-drafted the party’s constitution and developed software for the intra-party poll that gave registered voters just two choices: panel 1 or 2. Anything written besides 1 or 2 would disqualify the vote.

As per the amended constitution, 2.7 million voters had to decide between Imran Khan or Naik Muhammad Khan.

No party member was allowed to choose anybody besides the two panels, the Insaf panel and the Ehtesaab panel, with 14 members each.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

Overdue PTI intra-party elections on June 11

Imran Khan postpones intra-party elections, to be held after Raiwind march

PTI’s intra-party election not different from other parties

Haris khan

Jun 13, 2017 12:22pm

Imran will be next Prime Minister of Pakistan, Inshallah

Recommend 0

sfomann

Jun 13, 2017 12:27pm

PMLN, where are your intra party election? Do other people not have a chance to become the PM?

Recommend 0

Owais

Jun 13, 2017 12:37pm

"No party member was allowed to choose anybody besides the two panels, the Insaf panel and the Ehtesaab panel, with 14 members each." NO different from other parties so called 'elections'....just a camouflage !

Recommend 0

M.Saeed

Jun 13, 2017 12:38pm

@Haris khan: Rejection of over 26,000 votes within the party proves enough of the negative elements in the party. Besides, all other elected members having been re-elected also is another proof of the lack of transparency. Gandapur is the example.

Recommend 0

Naveed J.

Jun 13, 2017 12:40pm

What a joke in the name of intra-party elections. Imran Khan has been a disappointment on all fronts just like Nawaz. Taking corrupt to core politicians from other parties and doing gimmicks like this, Mr. Khan you cannot fool us anymore.

Recommend 0

Ahmad

Jun 13, 2017 12:40pm

Another u turn - PTI's joke intra party elections - very muck similar to PLMN and PPP's intra party elections. Now what differenciates PTI on this front too? PTI is not a true democratic any more. Party members were forced to vote for one of two panels presented to them and not for individual posts. Voting for Imran khan as a party chairman meant, also voting for SMQ as vic chairman, JTK as sec general. Aleem khan as president central Punjab, Yar Rind president Baluchistan and Ishaq Khan Khaqwani president south Punjab along with other lootas and corrupts. Justice Wajih Ahmed and Tasneem Norani refused to conduct such joke intra party elections but another loota Azam Sawati was prepared to do so.

Recommend 0

zahid

Jun 13, 2017 12:41pm

Quite interesting to see whole panel of Imran Khan gets just less then 2 lac votes from whole Pakistan. Difficult to become PM with this performance.

Recommend 0

FARRUKH EJAZ

Jun 13, 2017 12:41pm

What a fair election it is.Naik Muhammad Khan who suddenly appeared as contestant got 41647 votes in just 2 days campaign and the founder of party Imran Khan with the effort of 20 years got 189055 votes. When our nation would get rid of these fraud Intra party election system.

Recommend 0

nuzhat shireen

Jun 13, 2017 12:41pm

if king party is removed on corruption charge then next era is of IK.

Recommend 0

Saleem

Jun 13, 2017 12:43pm

good example set by PTI

Recommend 0

Osman

Jun 13, 2017 12:48pm

Sham of an election. Every seat should have been contested independently.

Recommend 0

Shazadjp

Jun 13, 2017 12:49pm

@Owais 100％ Agree.

Recommend 0

Jun 13, 2017 12:49pm

What Fawwad Chaudhary, Raja Riaz and Dr. Farduous Ashiq Awan elected for?

Recommend 0

Ashar

Jun 13, 2017 12:51pm

Someone not very well known - Naik Muhammad Khan and the Ehtesab panel getting almost 25% of the intra-party vote is a big wakeup call for Imran and the career politicians like SMK etc that he has chosen to partner with. If it was not for Imran leading that panel, I am sure that panel would have lost since it is only his name that people vote on and 25% of the votes going to an un known person against Imran Khan in PTI is very disturbing trend. Imran should focus on why people want PTI in power and why they are upset with the same corrupt faces joining PTI from other parties.

Recommend 0

last comment

Jun 13, 2017 12:51pm

IK is making PTI an institute to serve Pakistan unlike family run parties PMLN, PPP, ANP etc

Recommend 0

Syed

Jun 13, 2017 12:52pm

What a joke. Looks like a trade union elections where entire panel wins or loses. Doing the same nominating grassroots organizations.

Recommend 0

Muhammad zafar iqbal

Jun 13, 2017 12:54pm

Congratulations to elect Rind , Gandapur (honey fame) Aleem, Tareen to build NAYA PAKISTAN, also accommodate KHAR, FIRDOUS , Liaqat Jatoi and GONDAL to contribute in building NAYA PAKISTAN.

Recommend 0

Zafar ahmed

Jun 13, 2017 12:59pm

Party elections are same with all parties and not a real democratic way !

Recommend 0

Haris khan

Jun 13, 2017 01:03pm

@M.Saeed This is Pakistan Bro, If you want to win, you just need some politics tactics to WIN otherwise there is no rules of law. We all know how about our Politics, but Imran is not only good but much better than others, atleast he is not corrupt or thief.

Recommend 0

Jaan-Bhittani

Jun 13, 2017 01:07pm

What a drama election,, the same old faces with the same old portfolio,,, just to get "symbol of Bat"

Recommend 0

Naimatullah Khattak

Jun 13, 2017 01:17pm

Was it election or an election drama ....joke of the June

Recommend 0

Jun 13, 2017 01:27pm

Party wasted 3 years protesting on elections shows how to conduct election by appointing Swati as an election commissioner and selecting kitchen cabinet on key posts.

Recommend 0

Nawaz

Jun 13, 2017 01:34pm

Sham election done in total secrecy - so much for upholding democratic values! No middle class, educated youth made it to the top. Only the rich and elite (with combined net worth running into billions of rupees) selected by a life-time dictator!

Recommend 0

Guest

Jun 13, 2017 01:35pm

So no election was held for each individual position. Vote for Inran Khan was a defacto vote for Shah Mahmood for example. What a joke!

Recommend 0

Goraya

Jun 13, 2017 01:45pm

Where are tailors, common workers, all these are leftovers of PPP and I could not see Janab inqalabi Ex-governer who left everything including UK and N league for PTI.

Recommend 0

ZULFIQAR HAIDER

Jun 13, 2017 01:48pm

@Owais what? How is it a camouflage?

Recommend 0

F Khan

Jun 13, 2017 01:50pm

@Haris Khan: PM with only 185,055 votes?

Recommend 0

Muhammad qasim

Jun 13, 2017 01:53pm

@Haris khan There's nothing wrong with well wishing. PTI likely to get between 20-30 NA seats.

Recommend 0

saleem

Jun 13, 2017 01:56pm

what a sham election..... some body should do a dharna against it.....

Recommend 0

Yassar

Jun 13, 2017 02:00pm

@Owais - Your observation is correct. But, to be fair they were conducting elections in hurry to make sure that their registration does not gets cancelled. These elections were not even close to their previous intra party election.

Recommend 0

Junaid

Jun 13, 2017 02:10pm

Congrats on the obvious. I just dont know why we have this rule of intra party elections.

Recommend 0

326

Jun 13, 2017 02:10pm

@Owais - Do you really think anyone else can be elected as PTI head in presence of IK. IK is PTI and PTI is IK. It doesn't matter if "No party member was allowed to choose anybody besides the two panels, the Insaf panel and the Ehtesaab panel, with 14 members each." If party members would have been allowed to choose anybody beside the two panels this would have divided Ehtesaab panel votes only, no harm to IK's votes.

Recommend 0

SAEED MASOOD

Jun 13, 2017 02:16pm

PTI is a one man party...

Recommend 0

yaser arafat

Jun 13, 2017 02:35pm

Unbelievable results! What an example of fair and free election. PTI believes if same protocols for general election is followed in 2018, IK certainly will become PM. A very interesting fact that our 2.7 million only 0.25million which is less 1% turn out ratio. What does it reflect that rest 99% are ghost, not interested or left PTI.

Recommend 0

Jun 13, 2017 02:37pm

PTI is finally correcting its internal problems.

Recommend 0

Amin U Ansari

Jun 13, 2017 02:58pm

@Owais Am a PTI supporter and I fully agree. However, I put 95% of the blame on ECP for allowing rubber stamp elections within the political parties. PTI's is still much better than others. PMLN intra-party election took all of 2 hours. Secondly, they didnt have any choices for almost all the party slots.

Recommend 0

Jamil Ahmad

Jun 13, 2017 03:03pm

It is fake elections as other political parties in Pakistan. PTI has become same as others.

Recommend 0

Desi_Baba

Jun 13, 2017 03:04pm

PTI next time should contemplate doing a reality show.

Recommend 0

Desi_Baba

Jun 13, 2017 03:06pm

@Haris khan There were over a 100 candidates in my constituency the last time. Everyone's election posters sad the same Inshallah MNA, Inshallah MPA. Just Inshallah are not enough. You need to be sincere and you need to be competent. Imran Khan ain't - both

Recommend 0

rizwan

Jun 13, 2017 03:15pm

it will be interesting to see how spin doctors defend or dissect this intra party election farce. Just to obtain bat as election symbol, these were conducted in absolute haste in itself defeats the purpose of intra party polls. I think ECP should set aside such an eye wash exercise and ask PTI to go back and do this exercise properly. If not, am sure many a PTI disgruntled workers will soon be knocking at courts to get these results annulled. BTW, such haste only exposes PTI and its tall claims. only 250K voted. IK got 189K votes and his unknown till few days ago, opponent gets 41K votes. its a massive embarrassment for PTI and IK for such a dismal show

Recommend 0

alba

Jun 13, 2017 03:16pm

Irmran Khan is the PTI.

Recommend 0

Jun 13, 2017 04:27pm

Nothing surprising! Azam Swati was their Chief Election Commissioner. Imagine the rest!

Recommend 0

something fishy

Jun 13, 2017 04:47pm

Thank you Ahtasaab panel. Winning is not important. making the election genuine is important. Congratulations to both of the panels.

Recommend 0

majid

Jun 13, 2017 04:55pm

You see there's an absolute despotic environment within their party, how would such a party bring change at a country level, we have also seen their performance in KP for last 4 years which is depressing of course

Recommend 0

Msadiq

Jun 13, 2017 05:11pm

welcome to naya pakistan

Recommend 0

Mohsan zahid

Jun 13, 2017 06:39pm

We can not vote to single person over 14 person....its just like 14 people package....

Recommend 0

Chacha

Jun 13, 2017 06:59pm

Good start. Example for others

Recommend 0

Iftikhar khan

Jun 13, 2017 07:10pm

@sfomann, Good point. However getting elected for party's post should not mean that the person should be nominee for PM. Very few people would even know the names of Republican and democratic party chairman and other posts. Obama, Hillary etc have no party position. Party chairman like IK should ensure that his party is a good nursery and provides level playing field for the able people to come and get to the their right potential. IK can contribute a lot more this way then by becoming a PM himself. Unfortunately the culture in PTI is similar to other parties where feudal, and business influence is considered rather than genuine leadership and community building qualities

Recommend 0

Sarwat

Jun 13, 2017 08:41pm

Great show of election infrastructure.

Recommend 0

mstareen

Jun 13, 2017 08:51pm

No different from any other party. Same old tactics. The party which claims to be champion of democracy has bulldozed democracy. Imagine the morale stature of the party leadership, they don't even believe in what they preach.

Recommend 0

MOHAMMAD NAEEM

Jun 13, 2017 10:20pm

Goodluck imran khan

Recommend 0

FAS

Jun 13, 2017 10:49pm

Vote for IK in 2018.

Recommend 0

Mirza

Jun 14, 2017 03:40am

This is a real change, true elections lota style. PTI has a lifetime chairman since its inception and would remain for life. His term is much longer than ZAB, or BB and still going strong. Only NS can compete with him in this so-called party elections.

Recommend 0

Gohar Khan

Jun 14, 2017 04:05am

@Haris khan how ? With only 189000 voters on Social media.? Against Registered voters approx 2.7 million.? Pathetic .

Recommend 0

Mutasimbillah

Jun 15, 2017 02:16am

we want imran khan to be next prime minister of pakistan

Recommend 0

Mutasimbillah

Jun 15, 2017 02:17am

we want imran khan to be next pm of pakistan