LAHORE: Non-availability of online forms has perturbed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates who aspire to contest the upcoming general elections in July, Pakistan Today has learned.
On the condition of anonymity, a PTI candidate for a provincial assembly seat said, “We have been waiting for party tickets for a long time to prepare for the general elections. We were pleased with the news of the availability of party tickets online but the forms for party tickets are still not available and it is a matter of concern for us.”
Another PTI candidate for a National Assembly (NA) seat, who also wished not to be named, said that he too was worried over the non-availability of forms on PTI’s official website. “A candidate has to start preparations long before the election. When tickets get confirmed, candidates accelerate their efforts,” he added.
PTI MPA and candidate from PP-152 Murad Ras admitted that online forms were not available. He said that the candidates should not worry about the little delay.
“The decision will not be taken in a day or two. It will take weeks and months. Candidates should not fight for tickets rather they should focus on fighting for victory,” he said. “I am also a candidate for the upcoming general elections but I am not worried,” he added.
PTI Information Secretary Fawad Chaudhry said that the online forms would be available soon. “The candidates should not worry and check the website as forms will be available very soon,” he said.
PTI became the country’s first political party to invite online applications from aspirants for the upcoming general elections and the process had to start from Tuesday. This decision was taken during a meeting of the party’s parliamentary board, which was presided over by PTI Chairman Imran Khan at his Bani Gala residence in Islamabad.
The candidates for NA seats had been asked to deposit a non-refundable fee of Rs 100,000 and those willing to contest on provincial assembly seats would have to deposit a non-refundable fee of Rs 50,000 along with their applications. The party would review the applications to assess the situation and to curb the practice of sale and purchase of tickets. The process was started two months before the elections. The party had vowed to deal with candidates changing the party before elections with iron hands. In 2013 general elections, there were confirmed reports about the sale of tickets to candidates on payment of hefty amounts and Imran had to expel certain party leaders over the allegations.
PTI parliamentary board for Punjab would meet on April 14 to review the applications of the potential candidates and the final decision would be taken by Imran in this regard.
