Seeds of dissent: PTI leaders in Hazara likely to boycott Raiwind march

Disgruntled lawmakers uncertain whether they will participate in rally

PESHAWAR: The countdown to the Raiwind march continues, but senior members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in Hazara are likely to boycott the rally.

A PTI official told The Express Tribune senior leaders of PTI Hazara chapter will boycott the rally as they have a series of reservations regarding party affairs and their rights. The official requested anonymity as they are not authorised to comment on the matter.

“PTI leader Ali Asghar Khan and his family have a host of reservations about the violation of rights of the people of Hazara,” he said. “As a result, they might not participate in the march.”

On the other hand, a few members of the central leadership also have reservations regarding the march to Raiwind.

Chalking out a solution

Senior members of PTI in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Fata are likely to attend a meeting of the party’s top leadership in Bani Gala, Islamabad on Sunday (today). The moot will seek to chalk out a strategy for the upcoming protest in Raiwind.

Apart from core committee members, all the senior members of PTI in K-P and Fata have also been invited to give their input regarding preparations for the march.

In addition, some of PTI’s disgruntled lawmakers will decide after the meeting whether they will participate in the Raiwind march.

“We will attend the core committee meeting and then decide whether we wish to march to Raiwind,” a PTI MPA said.

However, he added they stand with PTI Chairperson Imran Khan to root out corruption.

Daunting task

The senior leadership has also tasked PTI members to convince people to participate in the march.

A party official confirmed that PTI MPAs have been assigned to convince people in their respective constituencies to join the march.

“All the MPAs from K-P have been given a target of 10,000 people from their constituency to bring to the march,” the official said.

Addressing important questions

PTI Central Media Department Chairperson Iftikhar Durrani confirmed reports about the meeting in Bani Gala, saying all PTI leaders from across the country will attend the moot.

Imran will address the media after the meeting to present a plan for Raiwind march. Durrani confirmed the development.

“The march will most likely start from September 24 and reach Raiwind on September 30,” he said.

Durrani said senior leaders from K-P, including Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, have been invited to the meeting and they would give their input regarding the upcoming march. He denied knowledge about Ali Asghar’s decision to boycott the rally, saying everyone will attend the rally.

“PTI members from across the country are eager to participate in the historical march,” he said.

About the task assigned to MPAs, Durrani said people from G-B to Karachi would participate in the march without any persuasion or invitation.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2016.