PTI Intra-Party Consultation on Strengthening Gender Equality, Social Inclusion and Democratic Governance in the Party Constitution

The Inter-Party Consultation on the PTI Party Constitution was organized on 19 August 2026 at the Marriott Hotel, Islamabad.   The Inter-Party Consultation on the PTI Party Constitution was organized under the EU-supported Pakistan Women Leaders project, a joint initiative of UNDP and UN Women.  The consultation brought together 52 participants, ensuring representation of youth, religious and ethnic minorities, alongside senior party leadership and office bearers.

In Consultation PTI senior leadership including Mr. Salman Akram Raja, Secretary General, PTI), Mr. Amir Dogar, Chief Whip, PTI and MNA, Senator Falak Naz Chitrali; Senator Robina Naz; Senator Khurram Zeeshan,  Senator Gurpreet Singh, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada; Mr. Shaukat Basra, Deputy Central Joint Secretary, PTI, Former MP, KP, Raja Tanveer Aslam, MPA Punjab, Ms. Shamin Aftab, Former MPA, Punjab, Mr. Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry, Legal Counsel for Imran Khan and Member, Core Committee , Mr. Ishfaq Paracha and Mr. Mussadiq Ghuman, Member, Central Core Committee; Mr. Faisal Javed Khan (Former Senator), Sardar M. Kakar, Incharge Huma Rights Winge PTI,, Ravi Kumar, Former MPA, Present Youth Wing, Mansoor Hassan, Former MPA KP, Nouman Mughal, Secretly Disability Wing Punjab, Zulikha, Women Wing Balochistan, Lubna Adil, Secretary Information Cell, Mr. Ali Imran (Parliamentary Expert); Mr. Qasim Janjua, Governance Advisor and Programme Head, UNDP); Mr. Naeem Mirza Executive Director, Aurat Foundation, Ms. Mumtaz Mughal, Director, Aurat Foundation, Mr. Safdar Raza; Mr. Shafiq Agha; Ms. Sumaira Gull; and other distinguished participants.

In opening remarks Mr. Amir Dogar, Chief Whip, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and MNA, acknowledged Aurat Foundation’s longstanding efforts to advance women’s political participation in Pakistan. He emphasized the importance of the consultation at a critical time when PTI is reviewing and considering amendments to its party constitution. He highlighted that PTI has awarded party tickets to women party workers to contest general seats, providing them opportunities to participate directly in electoral politics beyond reserved seats, and has also provided financial support from party funds to facilitate their election campaign.

While opening of Intra Party Consultation, Mr. Naeem Mirza, Executive Director, Aurat Foundation, highlighted the importance of women’s meaningful inclusion in political parties’ decision-making structures. He emphasized women’s significant contributions to strengthening political parties and their vital role in advancing pro-women legislation and promoting gender-responsive political reforms in Pakistan during the Inter-Party Consultation on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Party Constitution.

On behalf of UNDP, opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Qasim Muhammad Qasim Janjua, Program Advisor PLEDGE, UNDP Pakistan provided an overview of the PLEDGE project. He highlighted sustained collaboration among political parties, civil society, and development partners to institutionalize GE&SI principles within party constitutions and practices, ensuring long-term and impactful reforms.

Mr. Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry, Legal Counsel for Imran Khan and Member, Core Committee, provided an overview of the party’s constitutional provisions relating to membership, women’s participation, minorities, and the inclusion and representation of vulnerable groups.

Mr. Shaukat Basra, Deputy Central Joint Secretary said that the recommendations emerging from the consultation can contribute to making the party structure more inclusive, representative, and responsive to the participation and leadership needs of women, youth, minorities, and other underrepresented groups.

Senator Falak Naz Chitrali shared PTI’s vision for advancing women’s political empowerment and meaningful participation in political processes. She said that this is an important time to revisit and strengthen political and organizational practices to ensure greater representation of women and other underrepresented groups in party leadership and decision-making structures.

Senator Khurram Zeeshan acknowledged the need to create safer, more respectful, and inclusive political spaces for marginalized and underrepresented groups within PTI’s organizational structures.  He further emphasized that this is a critical time for civil society organizations to join hands and make collective efforts to raise their voices for greater inclusion in political processes.

Senator Rubina Naz, Senior Leader, PTI emphasized that at least 10% representation of women should be ensured among office-bearers at all levels of the party structure. She further emphasized the need to strengthen and effectively implement non-discrimination policies and robust accountability mechanisms within the party.

Senator Gurpreet Singh, Member, Core Committee of PTI, suggested at least a 5% quota should be reserved for minorities among office-bearers and members of key decision-making forums within the party. He further emphasized the need to ensure a safe, respectful, inclusive, and enabling environment for women, minorities, and other underrepresented groups.

Mr. Faisal Javed Khan, Former Senator emphasized the need to further strengthen opportunities for women and young people to assume leadership roles and participate meaningfully in the party’s decision-making structures.

Raja Tanveer Aslam, MPA, emphasized the need to strengthen the representation of women, youth, and other marginalized and underrepresented groups within political party structures. 

Ms. Shamin Aftab, Former MPA, PTI, emphasized the need for transparent and merit-based selection criteria within the party to ensure fair and equitable opportunities for all members. She further stressed the importance of establishing and effectively enforcing a clear policy against harassment, intimidation, and character assassination.

During the consultation, participants recommended strengthening the representation of women, youth, minorities, and other underrepresented groups in party structures and decision-making forums; ensuring at least 10% representation of women among office-bearers at all levels and a 5% quota for minorities in key decision-making bodies; adopting transparent and merit-based selection criteria; strengthening women’s leadership opportunities and institutional support; and establishing clear and enforceable policies against harassment, intimidation, character assassination, and discrimination. Participants further emphasized the need for robust accountability mechanisms and a safe, respectful, inclusive and enabling political environment, with the party constitution providing clear and enforceable commitments to equality and inclusion.

Mr. Salman Akram Raja, Secretary General, PTI, in his concluding remarks appreciated AF and its development partners for initiating this important dialogue on the party’s constitution, describing it as a appropriate and valuable exercise to strengthen PTI’s constitutional and organizational framework. He spoke of PTI’s long-standing struggle for democracy in Pakistan and its efforts to bring youth and women into the political mainstream, noting that this commitment is also reflected in the party’s constitution, and shared PTI’s vision and ongoing contribution to strengthening democratic institutions. He highlighted the importance of representative, participatory, and inclusive political structures, and reaffirmed his full support for the consultation process, noting that its recommendations could help make the party more inclusive, democratic, and responsive to the needs and aspirations of women, youth, minorities, and other underrepresented groups.