PTI to stage US-styled debates, but does everyone know about it?

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) may be against American drone attacks, but when it comes to democracy, it prefers US-styled debates for its first-ever intra-party elections.
However, irrespective of its approach on holding the long-awaited polls, an announcement by the media cell of the PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chapter on Tuesday gave away the lack of coordination and possible differences within party ranks.
“The PTI is going to make history by introducing pre-election debates in the party,” said a press release issued by the PTI KP office. The pre-election debate would be held on November 17 at Nishtar Hall, Peshawar. According to the statement, senior PTI leader Hamid Khan will be the chief guest on the occasion, while the party’s chief provincial election commissioner Qazi Muhammad Anwar and PTI KP Convener Prof Dr Mehr Taj Roghani would be the moderators of the debate. Expressing its desire to see “real democracy” in the country, the PTI announced holding pre-election debates among various party candidates in order to eliminate status quo and end the influence of certain families over power in the country.
The aim of holding intra-party election with US-styled debates is to present local caucuses on district levels throughout the country. The candidates would hold lengthy discussions and undergo primaries to win a party ticket for contesting election on provincial assembly or National Assembly seats and party portfolios. The candidates for party portfolios will have to present their future visions within the framework of the party manifesto before the PTI workers during the debate.
But, lack of coordination within the party’s provincial chapter was visible when this scribe contacted two prominent PTI leaders to get their opinion on the pre-election debates.
When contacted over the matter, PTI’s provincial spokesman Shah Farman expressed surprise to the point of shock, saying the party had no intention to hold pre-election debates. “Let me talk to the PTI’s media coordinator and ask on whose directives the press release on the pre-election debate is issued, as the party has no such plans so far”, Farman said and hung up.
Asad Qaisar, former provincial party chief and a candidate for the same slot ahead of the intra-party polls, also expressed ignorance over the development. “No way; there is no such plan to organise any pre-election debate,” he exclaimed. After being told that the decision had been reported in the media, he said: “No, no.” Four candidates, including former provincial president Asad Qisar, Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, MPA Pervaiz Khattak and former director general of the Intelligence Bureau Masood Sharif Khattak, are contesting for the provincial presidency, while Saad Abdullah is contesting for the slot of provincial general secretary.
Insiders said the candidates who were opposing pre-election debates had not prepared a policy to present to their workers.
The PTI has already dissolved all the organisations and bodies for the intra-party polls, and divided the province into four zones, namely Malakand, South, Hazara, and Central (Peshawar).
The party has not promised party tickets to anyone, and linked the award of tickets with the nomination by local caucus elected through the intra-party election.