Turning against: PTI Shabqadar workers plan rally against MPA

Members accuse Muhammad Arif of nepotism, mismanagement

SHABQADAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers in Shabqadar have decided to hold rallies against one of their own—an MPA—for neglecting them in development schemes and engaging in nepotism.

This announcement was made at a news conference at Shabqadar Media Centre which was attended by a large number of party workers and local government representatives. The decision comes two months before PTI’s intra-party elections which are scheduled for April 25.

Speaking on the occasion, PTI members said Muhammad Arif, the party’s MPA for PK-22, Charsadda-VI, has distributed development funds among his friends and relatives. They accused Arif of appointing his family members instead of PTI workers as government contractors for development initiatives. In addition, many of them insisted contractors appointed by Arif embezzled development funds. They vowed to hold a rally against the MPA and urge other party workers to support them Workers said they will continue to be guided by PTI chief Imran Khan’s plans to rid the region of corruption and work for public welfare.

Starting negotiating

A party insider told The Express Tribune the workers have not officially announced a date for the rally. “However, there is a strong likelihood the rally will be held on February 14 in Shabqadar,” he said.

According to the insider, Arif has started negotiating with the workers and urged them to call off the rally.

“The MPA has appointed a middleman to conduct negotiations,” he said. “A large number of MPAs have also arranged meetings with workers to dissuade them from holding rallies. But PTI workers are not willing to bow down to these requests.” Arif was unavailable for comments despite repeated attempts to contact him.

However, his colleagues told The Express Tribune he is trying to persuade PTI workers to call off protests and cannot comment on the matter at this stage.

Intra-party polls

Cracks have emerged in PTI over intra-party elections.

Insiders familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune one group is being led by Fazal Muhammad Khan, the party’s former provincial organiser and candidate for provincial president. The other faction is led by Arif. The former has received considerable support from the district nazim and has nominated candidates for the intra-party polls. On the other hand, the MPA’s group has yet to announce its nominees.

According to insiders, differences have also emerged within these two groups. Abid Khan, who belongs to Fazal’s group, has decided to contest against Zafar Khan, the candidate proposed by the former provincial organiser for the party’s district president.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th,  2016.