PTI not to comment on Panamagate verdict delay

Resolves to refrain from criticising judiciary

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf top leadership has decided in principle to refrain from commenting on the apex court for taking more time in announcing the Panamagate verdict than the party had anticipated.

The decision was taken on Monday during a consultative meeting of the party, held at the residence of PTI’s secretary-general Jehengir Khan Tareen.

“It has been decided in principle that top leadership and party’s media department will refrain from sharing any statement publicly, (which is) tantamount to criticising the top court due to delay in announcing the judgment,” said a senior party leader who attended the meeting.



The meeting also decided to cancel a press conference Imran Khan was supposed to address specifically on Panamagate issue on Tuesday.



On March 24, the party’s media wing issued a press statement where the party spokesperson had voiced concerns over the delay in the Supreme Court’s verdict in the case.

“It [delay] has been creating uncertainty among the general public. And if this situation persists, it could lead people to an unpalatable disappointment. The nation is on tenterhooks waiting for the court’s decision,” the statement read.

The statement had not only attracted criticism from government and opposition parties but also from within the party’s top leadership – who termed it ‘an attempt to pressurise top court’.

According to a senior leader, party’s vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi had also registered his protest with the party chairman over the statement and advised Imran Khan to refrain from publicly giving such statements, at least for the next two weeks.



“Leadership discussed at length the possible reasons for delay in judgment. Besides, what possible reaction the PTI can extend after the announcement of judgment also came under discussion,” said another participant of the meeting.

He further stated that the leadership discussed ways to execute its ‘Awami Rabta Mohim’, a drive which the party intends to kick off soon after the verdict.

It had also been decided that Imran Khan would address a public gathering in Talagang in connection with by-elections in PP-23.

Senior party leaders including Dr Arif Alvi, Asad Umar, Shireen Mazari, Ishaq Khakwani, Aleem Khan, Shafqat Mehmood, Naeemul Haque, Amir Kiyani and others were present in the meeting.

Spot-fixing probe

Through an open letter, senior PTI leader Imran Ismail has demanded immediate resignation from Chairman PCB Najam Sethi asking he should be probed alongside the players accused of spot-fixing.



Ismail charged Najam Sethi with patronising gambling and betting and stated that the PCB chairman was rescuing the masterminds by scapegoating some players.

He claimed Sethi wants to make PSL an ‘official’ platform for criminals and plunderers to make black money.

Ismail also stated that Najam Sethi should immediately resign and dissociate himself from PCB and should also present himself for inquiry along with the accused players. He vowed to consider other options to get the demands fulfilled.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28^th, 2017.