PTI has itself to blame for defeat in 2013 polls

PTI’s Review Commission report states ill-timed intra-party elections, selection of candidates sans merit, poorly-managed election campaign, PTI chief’s inadequate decisions and PTI secy general’s irresponsible attitude led to PTI’s defeat in 2013 general polls

A report prepared by a Review Commission of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has put the onus of PTI’s defeat in 2013 Elections on the party’s internal rifts and mismanagement as well as the decisions taken by PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

A three-member Review Commission headed by Tasneem Noorani was constituted on the directive of the PTI chief to probe the cause of PTI’s defeat in the elections.

Khan has repeatedly hurled allegations at former chief justice of Pakistan, a retired Supreme Court judge, the Election Commission of Pakistan, chief election commissioner, Returning Officers, some segments of the media and the caretaker set up for colluding in rigging the 2013 Elections.

However, the Commission has found that ill-timed intra-party elections, awarding of party tickets sans merit, lack of preparation for the polls and Khan’s indifference towards PTI workers were the major factors behind PTI’s defeat.

Per the report, the decision to conduct intra-party elections some 14 months prior to the 2013 General Elections was ill-timed and reflected mismanagement.

The intra-party polls caused rivalries, grouping and personal animosity amongst the party members and resourceful candidates were able to manipulate the party’s electoral system in their own favor.

Moreover, the accusations and counter-accusations leveled by party members against each other cast doubts over the entire process of intra-party elections, which were rejected by a vast majority of PTI members.

The commission noted that PTI’s campaign was mismanaged and not in line with the ground reality. The report states that PTI ignored its party workers altogether and rural areas were not targeted during the campaign.

The report adds that PTI secretary general did not play his due role and instead of focusing on coordinating the party’s campaign, he primarily remained pre-occupied in his own constituency.