LAHORE, March 12: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf’s presidents and general secretaries-elect from three regions in Punjab have unanimously nominated Ejaz Chaudhry and Dr Yasmin Rashid as candidates for PTI Punjab president and general secretary offices, respectively.

Speaking at a news conference at a local hotel on Tuesday, Ejaz Chaudhry said his group was optimistic about results in Punjab’s central region elections being held on Wednesday (today). He said the PTI Punjab elections were being scheduled for March 16.

He said the PTI Punjab would promote the cause of party and help it stage a big show on March 23 at Minar-i-Pakistan – displaying true spirit of democracy. As many as 80,000 elected representatives of the party would be administered oath by party chief Imran Khan on March 23.

Chaudhry said the decision to hold intra-party elections was a risky shot on behalf of Imran Khan but it turned out to be a ‘big sixer’.

“This party (PTI) has empowered its workers to become leaders and they will help masses improve their living standards,” he added.

He claimed the PTI was the biggest political party in the country with 10.6 million registered members.

Dr Yasmin Rashid said the PTI had promised to hold intra-party elections and fulfilled it. “The PTI will continue to come up to people’s expectations,” she said.

Condemning torching of Christians’ houses and other private properties in Joseph Colony, Dr Rashid said she and her party workers were ashamed of the brutal act of ‘some miscreants’.

“The PTI will take care of the weaker sections of society and provide minorities justice,” she added.

On the occasion, PTI Punjab’s South region president-elect Noor Muhammad Bhaba said holding of intra-party elections was one of the personal achievements of Imran Khan, besides Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital and NAMAL College in Mianwali.

Punjab’s West region president-elect Rai Hassan said the PTI had shaken the status quo with regard to political parties’ policy of not devolving powers. In order to avoid devolution of powers at grassroots level, he said, the traditional political parties did not even organise local bodies elections.

Former foreign minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri said Imran Khan had taken a risk of holding intra-party elections despite severe resistance in party’s central executive committee to the decision.

Punjab West region’s general secretary-elect Faizullah Kamoka, South region’a general secretary-elect Aon Abbas Bappi, North region’s general-secretary-elect Hina Manzoor, Kasur district president Nadeem Haroon Khan were also present on the occasion.