KARACHI, July 19: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the National Awami Party (NAP) have set in motion the process of democratization of the party structures by holding intra-party elections to meet the condition of eligibility for taking part in the October general elections.

Under article 17 (1) of the Political Parties Ordinance 2002, every political party desiring to take part in the elections shall be required to complete its intra-party elections, referred to in article 11, in accordance with the party constitution and the PPO by August 5.

In order to comply with the condition, PTI Karachi division held its elections on Friday at the party secretariat on Sharea Faisal.

According to a party statement, thousands of party members turned out to vote and the polling time was extended to 10.30pm. The election was held for the tiers of Karachi city, 20 towns, all party wings, including women, youths, welfare, lawyers, labourers, etc.

Dr Arif Alvi, senior vice-president, who is supervising the elections, told Dawn that the party would complete the process before the deadline.

The National Awami Party, led by veteran politician Ajmal Khattak, on Friday held its provincial council session where the party manifesto was approved and the provincial office-bearers were elected.

Amin Khattak, who was re-elected as provincial president along with Hakum Khan Jadoon as general-secretary, said the election process would be completed by July 28.

He pointed out that elections were held on Friday in all the four provinces to complete provincial organizations and to elect the members of the central working committee, while elections to the central body would be held at the party’s Peshawar convention scheduled for July 28.

PPP: The Pakistan People’s Party, which appears determined not to leave the field open for the king’s party, is also moving fast to hold intra-part elections from the grassroots level to the top, party spokesman Munawwar Suhrawardi said.