PTI needs new strategies to overcome shortcomings

Party’s popularity in question; recent meetings show cracks emerging in party.

PESHAWAR: PML-N’s victory in the PK-8 by-elections has exposed PTI’s vulnerability, while recent events at political meetings confirmed there are shortcomings in the ruling party of K-P. Internal rifts are apparent and its popularity or influence in the province is now in question.

Widening apertures

The defeat in PK-8, the loss of a National Assembly seat in Haripur and a provincial assembly seat in Upper Dir mean the writing is on the wall for PTI and its coalition partners, Jamaat-e-Islami and Qaumi Watan Party. It confirms that apart from common workers, even party leaders are not sincere towards each other.

Some PTI stalwarts cite the incompetent selection of the PK-8 candidate as the reason for the party’s loss, while others blame coalition partners for their support of rival candidates.

Rifts between PTI and JI emerged a little before PK-8 by-polls when the Bank of Khyber issue was examined, but the committee report has not yet been made public.

PTI losing ground

A few days ago, high ranking civil officers within the Civil Secretariat, responsible for the implementation of PTI’s agenda, also fought during a high level meeting in the presence of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak. The gravity of the feud can be gauged from the fact that two high ranking civil officials, a female officer left the moot in tears.

The meeting concluded without any action against the main antagonist, but he was later removed from his post and transferred to a less important position in another department.

While the chief minister had decided on prompt action, he was asked to delay it by an official. The latter suggested the party’s position could be further compromised as the resignation of the Ehtesab Commission’s director general had already tainted its reputation.

Similarly, PTI Chairperson Imran Khan returned with a disappointing image after addressing a historical rally in Bannu a few days ago. During the gathering, Imran had received big “no” responses from the audience to questions he posed. The audience said “no” when Imran asked whether they could change the attitude of the police or bring an end to corruption and malpractices in government departments. However, Khattak made an attempt to camouflage negative responses of the audience by saying, “Almost all of them are internally displaced persons (IDP) from North Waziristan who had been dispersed all over Bannu.”

However, workers and stalwarts of the opposition parties are exploiting the exchange of question and answers between Imran and his audience and tweaking them to
their advantage.

Need to review affairs

There is no justification to call performances of the PTI-led coalition satisfactory, but it is pertinent to mention that shortfalls on the part of government and bifurcations that are prevalent internally offer hurdles in completing Imran’s agenda, one of change.

An increasing trust deficit is not only emerging among coalition partners, JI and QWP, but also among PTI’s ranks. A lack of coordination and mutual understanding between members of the cabinet, PTI leaders and the parliamentary group exacerbates the issue.

Almost all of the provincial government’s important decisions are made and dictated from Bani Gala in Islamabad or Zaman Park in Lahore. Well-placed experts of PTI are unaware of the ground realities and need people from K-P. Given the party has completed 60% of its tenure, it is worrying to see that its performances and achievements are still under question. Imran needs to review his party’s internal affairs as well as his aides’ attitude towards the civil administration.

On the issue of terror and militancy, the civil administration has very little say. Therefore, PTI leaders need to remain more alert and vigilant. The party’s responsibilities are increasing with each passing day. Instead of going on an offensive against the opposition, elected local government institutions’ representatives and civil administration, it is time PTI forms new strategies with an eye on past and present shortcomings.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2016.