Intra-Party Elections
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to conduct its intra-party elections on Friday, according to party sources.
The decision, made in consultation with Imran Khan, includes a schedule for the elections with the exception of the chairman position, which will not be contested.
The party clarified that Imran Khan will be elected unopposed as chairman, while other positions will see competition from multiple candidates. This move follows a directive from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which urged the party to hold intra-party elections to maintain its electoral symbols.
The ECP’s regulations mandate that every registered political party must conduct intra-party elections every five years. Subsequent to the elections, political parties are obligated to submit a certificate confirming the occurrence of the elections.
Saudi Arabia Allows Equal Hajj Quota To Pakistani Private Tour Operators In 2024
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has given the green light to Pakistan’s request to provide an equal quota to all private Hajj tour operators for the upcoming pilgrimage, set to take place from June 26 to July 1, 2024.
This year, Saudi Arabia has reinstated Pakistan’s pre-COVID Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims and removed the previous age limit of 65 years for the pilgrimage.
Approximately 90,000 Pakistani pilgrims are anticipated to participate in Hajj through the government scheme, while an equal number will join private tour operators for their religious journey.
Earlier, the Saudi government had slashed the number of Pakistani private Hajj tour operators from 905 to 46, causing concern among industry participants.
After high-level discussions, Pakistan urged Saudi authorities to allocate a dedicated quota to all 904 operators, safeguarding the interests of numerous individuals in the industry.
The Saudi government accepted this proposal, earning praise from private tour group operators.
Under the new plan for private Hajj operators, there will be a total of 180 groups of pilgrims, each consisting of 500 people.
