Rifts within: PTI issues show cause notice to Hashmi

‘Rebel’ challenges Qureshi to compete; will submit nomination papers today

ISLAMABAD/ MULTAN: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) served Javed Hashmi — the party’s disgruntled leader and president — with a show-cause notice on Monday.

“In view of the repeated statements regarding PTI, the Chairman [Imran Khan] has suspended you [Hashmi] in accordance with the Constitution of the party,” reads a letter issued by PTI’s secretary general Jahangir Tareen from the party’s Islamabad Secretariat. “You [Hashmi] are required to submit yourself before a disciplinary committee and explain your position on Sep 29 in Islamabad.”

Later, addressing a press conference at his residence in Multan, Hashmi insisted that a non-elected secretary general of party cannot issue a show cause notice to an elected president. “I am an elected President and only the Central Executive Committee, under party’s constitution, can remove him from this office,” he said.

The veteran politician also challenged the PTI vice chairman, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, to stand for elections from NA-149 and NA-150 constituencies, saying that people of Multan will decide who the truthful politician is.

Hashmi asserted that the NA-150 constituency is legally and constitutionally vacant now as Qureshi is occupying this seat illegally. He further announced that he will submit nomination papers for by-polls as an independent candidate on September 23 (today).

“It has been an organised campaign to crush the promising movement of Imran Khan, and those who have done this are hearing me right now.”

PTI to boycott by-elections

PTI on Monday announced its decision to boycott the by-elections in NA-149 Multan-II, Express News reported. The seat had fallen vacant after the resignation of Javed Hashmi. The PTI vice chairman made this announcement in a press conference.

Later, while speaking to Express News, Qureshi hinted at a possible collusion between the ruling party — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz — and Hashmi, who has announced to contest the elections as an independent candidate.

“There is no official nomination by PML-N yet; the party should nominate someone and if the ballot paper doesn’t have the party symbol then we can assume that back-door negotiations have been taking place,” Qureshi claimed. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2014.