Appeal to the ISC (International Steering Committee)

Dear PTI UK Members/Representatives

Since the posting of the Election Notification on Insaf website on April 11 2009, we have received a number of calls / emails relating to the process of elections being proposed.  Please note that we have not had the opportunity to review the original UK election draft proposal with you all (see the timeline below) however we are attaching the UK draft proposal below for your review.  You are the key stakeholders and own the party as much as we do.

We have reviewed the Election Notification on Insaf and we welcome the date for the elections in the UK (June 14 2009) however we have appealed to the ISC against three points that are integral to the election process /mechanics in the UK.  The ISC's response is critical as we are looking to them for guidance and leadership and fair decisions.

The overall election process and its mechanics is important as it impacts you, us, the party and most importantly it will reflects the the level of 'open' communication between international chapters and the ISC in Paksitan.    

From our side, we need to ensure that we meet your expectations, your aspirations and ensure an open door communication policy.  UK Chapter is the only chapter which has exceeded the 300 paid membership benchmark that was set for us over the last 10 months and mashahallah people are joining us all the time. 

Please review the three points below and let us know whether you agree, disagree with what PTI UK is proposing by click the buttons on the website.  

TIME LINE OF EVENTS

  1. Dec 12 2008 - Chairman Imran Khan announces elections to be held in April 2009 
  2. Feb 17 2009 - We were asked to work on an election proposal for the UK which was sent on Feb 17 2009- see attachment
  3. Feb 22 2009 - As per Dr Alvi's feedback we updated the draft and resent the election proposal for the UK - sent on Feb 22 2009 - see attachment
  4. Feb 23 2009 - We were asked to send the document in word format - sent on Feb 23 2009 - see attachment
  5. Mar 02 2009 - Based on feedback from Dr Alvi, we reviewed and sent back on Mar 02 2009 - see word document
    • As far as we knew everything had been agreed between PTI UK and the ISC via Dr Arif Alvi regarding the election process
  6. Mar 10 2009 - Then we received another totally different questionnaire from Dr Alvi - we filled this and returned on Mar 10 2009
    • There was no communication between PTI UK and Dr Alvi or any member of the ISC after the questionnaire - again we thought everything had been agreed
  7. April 07 2009 - We receive an Election Notification on April 07 2009 - this was totally different to our input and our previously agreed election process. 
  8. April 08 2009 - We go back to Dr Alvi / ISC and request for amendments based on our earlier correspondence and documentation over the last few months.
  9. April 09 2009 - We are told that the notification cannot be amended and we need to get in touch with Ali Zaidi and Imran Ismail.
  10. April 11 2009 - We were in the process of preparing to appeal however the Election Notification was posted on the Insaf website without our knowledge or considering any feedback from PTI UK which was highlighted to Dr Arif Alvi
  11. April 11 2009 - We have appealed against the Election Notification again via this email to the ISC members - see ISSUES BELOW.  
  12. April 12 2009 -  We are sharing the original UK election proposal with the PTI UK representatives and paid members 

 

 

ISSUE 1 - Definition of UK - Scotland vs. PTI U

  • Official definition of UK as known internationally and globally:  The world recognizes United Kingdom as a unitary state consisting of four regions: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. All citizens belonging to these regions are issued with a UK passport.  
  • Based on the above, Scotland is part of UK in the same way as England, Wales and Northern Ireland and these regions form UK.   We cannot exclude Scotland from participating in the UK leadership election process.    It is like saying Balochistan or NWFP is not part of Pakistan. 
  • The representation or proportion of PTI paid members in other cities / regions may be considerably less in proportion to that of London, but still it is the right of all PTI UK paid members to cast their votes for the election.
  • If we do not allow Scotland to form part of PTI UK, then all the contribution that has gone through our processes becomes nullified.  All monies sent to Pakistan so far have also included monies and donations from the Scotland members, Ireland members and Wales members hence they cannot be excluded in any shape or form.

 One Bank Account, One Finance process, One membership process for all of UK and 100% transparency.  

ISSUE 2 - Tenure

Justice and equality and fairness & consistency require that we have same tenor for all chapters / regions globally.  We need to align tenor with Pakistan.  So instead of 1 year we are looking at 2 or 3 year as per Pakistan.

ISSUE 3 - Membership

  • Purpose of elections - introduce fairness, accountability and progression and legalize structures. We will not compromise the integrity of the party by 'bogus' membership. 
    • There is saying in the Quran Pak - even if it is your parents who make a mistake then it is the duty and responsibility of the children to correct them!!
  • All members have paid us an annual membership - hence there is no concept or rationale for paying 6-month dues just to be eligible to vote, as this will encourage horse trading and bogus membership.  This will enable contenders to BUY votes.  This is introducing ‘voter’ rigging.
    • What is the driver behind this suggestion and what are the underlying compulsions and reasons.  This needs to be clarified. 
  • The membership process is centralized in the UK and is tied with the financial process and the one Lloyds bank account as per the notification from Sec Finance PTI. 
  • Each paid member receives an identity number after receipt of his or her payment, which ensures validity of the member. Centralized bank account means that people cannot misplace funds. All valid members have to follow this process. 
  • Members and representatives from all of the UK did not join PTI for the internal election purposes.  People became members over the last 10 months for bringing a change to Pakistan via PTI.  
  • By selling ‘bulk’ paid membership for the sake of internal elections, we are violating the expectations of members and we are negating our Chairman's Asooli siyasat. By selling membership we are inviting candidates to show their monetary clout and replicate the horse-trading siyasat of Pakistan, which we are requesting should not be encouraged or followed.
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