Raiwind march: Imran to try to build party consensus

Top political aide Saifullah Niazi quits Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

ISLAMABAD: In an effort to iron out differences following the resignation of a top leader on Saturday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman will set out to hold two key party events today (Sunday), prior to announcing the much anticipated date of the Raiwind march.

Imran Khan will preside over the PTI’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting and Workers Convention, both to be held separately and participated by the party’s leadership from the federal capital and all four provinces.

The PTI top command has directed the central and provincial leaderships to ensure maximum participation for both the events as the party chairman will announce the date for the Raiwind march after consulting all members.

Sources familiar with the development said that the party has reached a deadlock following internal rifts over the march. “There is a segment within the party that believes the Raiwind march is not a viable option, because it will politically embarrass the party. Some members believe the Raiwind march episode could become a repetition of the 2014 sit-in staged in Islamabad that eventually fizzled out,” party sources told The Express Tribune.

Additional Secretary General PTI Saifullah Niazi reportedly stepped down because of similar reasons. Sources said he wanted to distance himself from the Raiwind march as Niazi was not in favour of ‘any such adventure.’

Media reports quoted PTI spokesman Naeemul Haq as confirming Niazi’s act of handing in his resignation but did not confirm if the chairman had accepted the same. Party sources said Niazi wanted the leadership to review its decision about the march. Niazi was the chief organiser of the central committee of 2014 protest and sit-in movement.

Niazi was unavailable for comment.

Sources further said that Imran would look at things differently as Niazi’s resignation is a major setback for the party at a crucial time. “Efforts are being made to convince Niazi to withdraw his resignation,” the PTI leader said, adding that since Imran had already announced the Raiwind march there was no turning back.

“Our party is trapped in problems,” the source added.

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