The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday announced that it would hold its intra-party elections after the general election instead of Feb 5 as the party leaders and workers were preoccupied in poll campaign. A day earlier (Thursday), the party in a surprise move said it would hold the intra-party elections on Feb 5. But, it realised that the exercise could not be conducted just ahead of the general election because of engagement of leaders and workers in their constituencies. The internal elections of the party will now be held soon after general elections going to be held on Feb 8. The PTI says a new schedule for the intra-party elections will be issued. Sources said party leadership had contacted chief organiser and requested to postpone the elections. Moreover, party members also requested to defer the intra-party elections as they were busy in electioneering in their respective areas.

Earlier, party's federal election commissioner had issued the schedule. The party had said all registered voters would be eligible to take part in voting throughout Pakistan on the designated places for polling to elect a panel or a candidate of their choice. "All the party members registered till Jan 31 would be eligible to take part in voting. Details of the panels taking part in elections will be available on the official website of the PTI. The detailed procedure for intra-party polls is given in Election Rules, 2020, also available on website," said the party statement given on social media website. Polling was to be held on Feb 5 from 10am to 5pm. Nomination papers could be received from party's central secretariat or officail website from Feb 1 to 2. The last date for filing of nomination papers wwas announced as Feb 2 till 10pm. "All contesting panels lists will be published on Feb 4 at 4pm on the website. The official results of intra-party polls will be issued on Feb 6 (Tuesday)," said the party statement.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)