LAHORE - Chief Election Commissioner for PTI’s elections Hamid Khan has claimed that over 62,500 workers participated in polls to elect party leadership in the federal capital.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, he said that successful election in 40 union councils of Islamabad region was a new chapter in the country’s history.
Hamid Khan said that the workers exercised their right to vote to choose around 500 party leaders for the federal capital.
“These are the first-ever party elections to be held in the entire subcontinent, smashing the negative traditions of nominating office-bearers by the dictatorial party heads”, he said, adding, over 50 per cent voters cast their votes through cell phones and SMS while 41 polling stations were established across the federal capital to facilitate those voters who either didn’t have access to cell phones or did not know how to vote through the new technology gadgets.
It was also for the first time that the voters exercised their right to vote through modern gadgets and information technology – paving the way for a new, transparent system of voting where the voters were able to choose their leadership without any fear or favour, he said. He condemned the government tactics of blocking the phone numbers dedicated for voting and said that the PTI would face negative tactics bravely.
Information Secretary Sahfqat Mahmhood said that the election was held for 9 general and 4 women reserved seats in every union council. However, women also contested for the general seats. He said that the PTI had conducted real election in the party and this was a gigantic task. “We devised a mechanism and over 62000 workers took part in the party polls. A new political culture has emerged from these elections which will ensure a foundation for change,” he added.
After the first phase of Union Council elections, countrywide elections will be held in different phases. Inter party elections for KPK start next, on the 9th of December 2012 and will be wrapped up by the 19th of December 2012. After which elections for Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan will be held and the entire process is expected to complete by mid January.