ISLAMABAD: A party investigation into the causes of PTI’s defeat in the general elections blames internal weaknesses, and not poll rigging, as the primary reason for the party’s failing.
Instead of accusing the former chief justice, chief election commissioner, Geo TV and caretaker set-up, the PTI’s three-member inquiry committee found ill-timed intra-party elections, wrong selection of candidates motivated by favoritism and corruption, lack of preparation for the elections, Imran’s indifference towards workers and other issues as major factors behind the defeat. Many held Imran responsible for wrong selection of candidates, according to the report.
While a hype was generated through the media, the inquiry report said, it created a lull among the candidates into believing that they would win due to a ‘wave’ and need not work. In addition, the campaign ignored the poor and rural segments.
The report also highlights the grievances of party office bearers and workers against Imran Khan who, they complained, does not give them due importance. They held Imran Khan and other top leaders responsible for the mess in ticket distribution as all the decisions were taken by them, the report points out. Assessment of the candidates was done in a very “hush hush” manner, said the report.
Former federal secretary, Tasneem Noorani, eminent lawyer Ahmed Awais and Yacoob Izhar co-authored this internal report titled “Review Commission Final Report” that examined the intra-party elections, ticket distribution process and the factors that led to the failure of the party in the general elections.
Explaining the trouble caused by the intra-party elections shortly before the national polls, the report said it caused rivalries, grouping and personal animosity that seriously affected the unity and enthusiasm of PTI during the general elections.
Highlighting the flaws in the election campaign, the report said the poor and rural segments were promised nothing in the campaign. The national campaign was limited to TV ads and there was no contact with the rank and file of the party, it further notes. The TV campaign did cause an impact, the report explains, but the hype created a lull amongst the candidates into believing that they will win due a wave and need not work.
The top party leadership and the newly-elected office-bearers had no contact with the workers during the election days, according to the report. The PTI and its candidates made inadequate arrangements for the polling agents.
Highlighting the lack of non-preparedness, the report notes: “After hearing both sides, the Review Commission is of the view that there is no doubt that our candidates were not adequately prepared for the election day.” Among the ticket holders, 25% or so were youth, most of whom had neither election experience, nor the funds to launch an effective campaign. Further, three weeks that most candidates got to fight the election were totally inadequate, especially for the first time youth candidates, it said.
“Our candidates were exhausted by the time they got tickets,” the report points out, and had precisely three weeks to do everything. So they made half-hearted attempts to organise the polling agents or protest against the wrong posting of polling staff. The lack of harmony between the NA and PA candidates also acted as a major setback in the face of cooperation between the candidates of the opposing parties, the report said.
A few members had complained that Imran Khan does not give due importance to party workers, the report points out. They also held the party leadership, including the Imran Khan, responsible for the mess in ticket distribution, since the central parliamentary board took all decisions for awarding tickets.
PTI’s inquiry blames internal weaknesses for defeat in elections - thenews.com.pk
what a stunt!
