Internal rifts: PTI leader announces movement against former colleagues

Ashraf Qureshi accuses party leaders of taking decisions without consulting senior workers

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) former Karachi president Ashraf Qureshi and other members of the party announced on Saturday the launch of 'PTI Bachao Tehreek' during a press conference outside Insaf House.

Qureshi told The Express Tribune that PTI's performance in the city is disappointing and the hardworking workers of the party cannot watch their party go down. Qureshi claimed that the PTI has been hijacked by a gang of four people, which includes Arif Alvi, Ali Zaidi, Imran Ismail and Firdous Shamim Naqvi.

He accused them of taking decisions without consulting other senior party members.

Qureshi also announced that he will hold a party convention of dedicated party workers, outside Insaf House, in which the workers will decide their next strategy.

While talking to The Express Tribune, PTI central leader Imran Ismail said that he is not aware of any such movements. Party affairs should be discussed in party meetings, he said, adding that the PTI will issue a show-cause notice to Qureshi for violating party rules and making a party within the party.

Ismail further said that currently, the PTI in Karachi is being run by a taskforce formed by party chairperson Imran Khan that consists of Alvi, Ismail, Ali Zaidi, Tariq Shafi and Naqvi. Will the senior leadership of the party will look into this matter and solve it? Ismail said that the party is currently focusing on the Panama Papers issue.

"Once we are through, then the party chairperson will look into the matter," he said.

Subhan Ali Sahil, another former PTI Karachi president, said the party has been hijacked by a few members and party workers such as Qureshi find it suffocating working with people who do not even consult other leaders for important decisions. Sahil urged Khan to take notice of the party situation in the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2016.