K-P chapter: PTI workers demand intra-party elections

Party’s regional president Shah Farman accused of misbehaving with workers

PESHAWAR: Workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chapter called upon the central leadership to hold intra-party elections immediately or risk setbacks in the upcoming general elections.

In a second PTI workers’ meeting held in Nowshera on Saturday, the workers asked party chairman Imran Khan to fill provincial cabinet slots through proper election instead of nomination by the PTI core committee in 2016.

Headed by former Peshawar district president Zafarullah Khattak, the workers showed their reservations on the nomination of PTI regional president Shah Farman, Peshawar District President Arbab Jandad and General Secretary Muhammad Asim Khan.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Khattak said that they have started a movement against those who create hurdles in the way of workers. He said that the party will continue to conduct meetings in all the other districts.

Khattak claimed that the party leaders were not satisfied with the performance of Farman, Jandad and General Secretary Muhammad Asim Khan. Yet since they occupy key offices the party should brace for harmful consequences for the party in the upcoming general elections.

Khattak said that the regional president misbehaved with the workers creating chaos among the members of the party. He said the PTI chief Imran Khan needs to come forward and resolve issues which create barriers in the way of progress for the party.

Regarding future of the workers’ movement, Khattak said that the number of workers is increasing day by day and the party leader Imran Khan needs to be informed about the ground reality. District Peshawar Mayor Muhammad Asim Khan, who is also PTI Peshawar District General Secretary, said that holding intra party elections does not come under his domain and is the central leadership’s responsibility. He also said that all party office bearers are nominated by party’s central core committee and it should be accepted by every worker. He said that party will hold intra party elections but it will take some time as the leaders are busy in other important matters.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2017.