Sarwar dismisses rumours, says he is eligible

Former PTI Punjab organiser says Imran Khan has given him a go ahead to contest polls

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar said on Sunday that there was no clause in the party constitution that prevented him from running for PTI Punjab president in the upcoming intraparty elections.

He was addressing a reception held by PTI leader Umar Kasana as part of his campaign.

Reservations over Sarwar’s eligibility to contest intraparty elections had surfaced last week when several party leaders indicated that they would take up the issue with the party’s election commission. Sarwar had resigned as Punjab governor last year and then joined the PTI as its Punjab organiser. The objectors said that two years had not passed since he held a public office. However, no official complaint has been lodged so far.

Sarwar said that he had received a go ahead from party chairman Imran Khan to contest the party elections.

“I hold party interests supreme. I have had a discussion with party chairman Imran Khan over the issue of my eligibility. Some friends had expressed reservations over my announcement to contest the elections. I offered to withdraw my candidature in case there was an issue.

However, Imran Khan told me that there was no restriction on my contesting the post. There is nothing in the party constitution that prevents me from contesting the polls. I am all set to contest. All apprehensions in this regard should end,” he said.

Citing the examples of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Punjab chief minister, as well as former president Asif Ali Zardari, he said that they had held party and public offices simultaneously. “Why should there be a problem in my case?” he asked.

However, Sarwar did not comment when reminded of the Lahore High Court ruling that prohibited former president Asif Ali Zardari from simultaneously holding the presidency and the party’s co-chairmanship.

To a question about the PTI election commission’s having taken notice of the lobbying and attempts to create groups ahead of the intraparty elections, Sarwar said that panels would have to be formed if elections were to be held to all posts. “If the election is only going to be held for the post of president, there will be no need for forming panels,” he said.

Referring to PTI performance during local government elections, Sarwar said that the party had not provided support to its candidates as it ideally should have. “The party performed better in Kasur, Faisalabad, Nankana Sahib and Okara districts because the party took the right decisions there. Compared to the 2013 general elections, the PTI’s vote bank has doubled,” he said.

He said that the PTI’s complaint against rigging in NA-122 by-elections was pending with the Election Commission of Pakistan.

“The greatest challenge for the PTI will be to select people on merit. The next two years are crucial for the party. I will work with the party to ensure we win the next general elections. I will never leave the PTI,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th,  2016.