PTI’s internal rifts grow over Punjab appointments

Party members unhappy over appointments to govt posts taking place in violation of a list prepared earlier

LAHORE: There is growing discontentment among Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ranks over Punjab government appointments taking place in violation of a list prepared three months ago.

On Saturday, PTI additional general secretary Ejaz Chaudhary informed the party leadership about the members’ reservations over the issue.

Following the PTI leadership’s delay in appointments, many party leaders set up their own organisational bodies in their respective areas and appointed office-bearers to run them.

PTI general secretary Arshad Dad has issued a notification dissolving these bodies, noting that they were in violation of the party constitution.

There were reports suggesting that Chaudhary has tendered his resignation in protest against the appointment of individuals who were not on the list prepared earlier.

PTI sources said the party members had unanimously agreed to appoint Noor Khan Bhabha as the chairman of the Zakat and Ushr committee. However, the government has prepared a summary for appointing Gujranwala’s Bilal Aijaz to the post.

According to the sources, Prime Minister Imran Khan himself had directed the chief minister to appoint Aijaz to the post when he visited Lahore.

From the list prepared by a committee headed by Arshad Dad, only one or two names have been approved for appointment. The other positions are either vacant or people who were not on the list have been appointed.

The sources also said Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Governor Chaudhry Sarwar are divided over the issue of appointments and relations between the two leaders are strained.

On the chief minister’s reservations, Rabia Zia, a close aide to the governor and Naeem Bukhari, was ousted from the good governance committee.

The prime minister has ordered the chief minister to fill the vacant posts within 15 days.