File photo of PTI chief Imran Khan. PHOTO: INP
Many who struggled to establish PTI in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) now refuse to attend party meetings and lament the current situation, saying that businessmen and billionaires have hijacked the PTI.
A sense of ‘partition’ prevails as PTI Nazriati is expected to emerge with over 20 members of the provincial assembly belonging to different districts, including Peshawar, Mardan and Swat.
Party sources told The Express Tribune that many loyal supporters had been expressing their grievances, but could not complain publicly. However, with the recent reshuffling in the K-P cabinet and relentless interference from the centre, the differences have surfaced and a forward bloc seems to be in the making.
A party source, requesting anonymity, questioned why only the health ministry was reshuffled and cited the long tussle between former health minister Shaukat Yousafzai and PTI Central General Secretary Jehangir Tareen over shutting down Peoples Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI), a project reportedly being looked over by Tareen.
The source alleged nonstop interference in provincial party issues by Tareen, adding, “The central leadership of PTI is putting unnecessary pressure on the provincial government and this interference may disintegrate the party in K-P. I can see a forward bloc in the making.”
The PTI source seconded a statement issued by former information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain, where he claimed the party may have removed Qaumi Watan Party MPAs over corruption allegations, but had failed to keep a check on corruption in their own party.
The source added that K-P Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has also expressed deep reservations over Shahram Tarakai’s additional charge of the health ministry besides being a senior K-P minister; while Javed Naseem’s resignation from the standing committee is another sign of internal strife, since he was refused a promised portfolio in the provincial cabinet.
Jehangir Tareen, Azam Swati and the party spokesperson Shireen Mazari could not be contacted despite several attempts.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2014.
COMMENTS (21)
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Just an ordinary Wednesday, just an ordinary news, just an ordinary political phenomenon, just an ordinary party PTI !!!
PTI is another PPP with IK is acting like ZAB! Pity, we haven't been able to produce leaders who can develop systems and can have a longer term sustainable affect. Let ppl senslessly follow IK-PTI till they find better person.
@Furqan Hafeez: I am sick and tired of the "inside sources", "official who didnot want to be named", "a high ranking official in the party who wanted to stay anonymous". Gov must do something about media rules and regulations while PEMRA is in a deep sleep.
Constant interference from the centre? We have the CM Punjab running the foreign affairs ministry and here you're complaining about Imran Khan providing direction to his party leaders in KPK? Sounds like another ANP/QWP rant.
So, in the end it's the people of Peshawar and rest of the province that suffers! I think people were right about PTI office holders being opportunist.
@ZAFAR: No body has to black mail. But as they are on key position bcz they donate lot of funds to Party.
Just one PTI news in ET today and that is about PTI's possible disintegration with a forwards bloc of three people. I wonder "inside sources" did not tell ET about Imran Khan's imminent plan to flee to London as PTI vanishes into thin air.
In a way, Imran himself is to be blamed for such a biased treatment from ET. Had it been pro-military operation, which ET has been preaching day in and day out, IK would have been termed the real hope for the country.
@MAD: I think you forgot that PTI took these people onboard as they were ELECTABLES. they can move with a chance to win whereas there movement may impact PTI chance going forward.
all gossip... pti supporters loyalty lies only with imran khan
@ MAD Agreed, forward blocks are created by 'electable' who dont need any party tickets to become members of parliament. Certainly not the case here.
for your info ET your articles in the past pointed rifts "within PTI KP" & When QWP left the collation you started articles such as "Numbers that Matter" in which you falsely portray that PTI has lost numbers in kp assembly but in reality there majority was intact and now again you started with this "Forward Bloc". sorry to say but you become "Express Tabloid"
If that happens, neither block would survive. Why is JT allowed to wield so much influnece over the KP govt., why IK has taken a backseat? It appears that his only role now is the appeasement of the TTP.
They will loose their seats, if they try to make forward block. No other party is in position to get majority, PTI is still hugely popular in KPK.
Forwad block of what? More than 80% of MPA's won using the name of PTI and Imran Khan. On their own they probably couldn't even win a council seat. Their existence and the fact that they are prominent today is cause of Imran Khan.
PTI really love the forward block as IK already said if any body want to blackmail to PTI: He will prefer to give up govt but will not bow to them by any means. I wonder how one leader can make minster to all of the members
Please Tribune, this news seems incomplete... tell us what the ANP ministers had to say about this?