ISLAMABAD: One of the founding members of the PTI, Akbar S. Babar has rejected Imran Khan’s nomination of Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as a candidate for the party chairman’s slot, calling it “selection instead of an election”.

In a press statement, Mr Babar, who had filed the foreign funding case against the PTI, said the nomination of the new PTI chairman has raised serious questions about the transparency and credibility of the entire PTI intra-party election process.

He said that for a party that champions the transparency and level playing field in the national elections is shying away from allowing its workers a level playing field to elect its leadership without interference and manipulation.

Mr Babar said that it appeared that the PTI has learnt few lessons from its past history of holding rigged intra-party elections. He said the intra-party election process has dragged since the Covid-19 days when the ECP granted one year on the PTI request to hold transparent intra-party elections under its constitution. This never happened as the PTI leadership was busy in destructive power politics and precious time was wasted.

Mr Babar proposed that the Election Commission of Pakistan should appoint ‘observers’ to monitor the PTI intra-party elections as it is already seized with the matter.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2023

Opinion

The price of chocolate

The price of chocolate

Little attention is paid to any long-term strategy which might prevent vulnerable children from working in homes where they are in danger.

Editorial

Cholistan project
Updated 18 Feb, 2025

Cholistan project

GPI goals align with Pakistan's broader economic aims but the manner in which the initiative was launched raises questions.
Right to know
18 Feb, 2025

Right to know

IT is an unfortunate paradox that while on paper Pakistan has some of the most impressive right to information laws,...
Dam dispute
18 Feb, 2025

Dam dispute

THE situation in Chilas needs attention and a fair-minded approach so that it can be resolved amicably. Diamer ...
Climate funding gap
Updated 17 Feb, 2025

Climate funding gap

Pakistan must boost its institutional capacity to develop bankable climate projects.
UN monitoring report
Updated 17 Feb, 2025

UN monitoring report

Pakistan must press Kabul diplomatically over its tolerance of TTP terrorism.
Tax policy reform
17 Feb, 2025

Tax policy reform

THE cabinet’s decision to create a Tax Policy Office at the finance ministry has raised hopes that tax policy is...