Another audio leak

PTI's leadership has been averse to holding leaders accountable until forced to do so

In the least surprising speech in recent political history, sacked Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government spokesman Ajmal Wazir claims that the audio recording of him accepting a kickback was edited by those plotting against him. It is a variation of the same claim we have heard from everyone and their uncle upon being caught with a hand in the cookie jar. The recording appears to be of Wazir and an advertising executive discussing the final amount and terms of a payoff relating to the Covid-19 public awareness campaign.

Wazir, of course, is another parachute politician. He joined the ruling PTI just ahead of the 2018 elections from the PML-Q and was quickly rewarded with a position in the provincial cabinet. The first post put him in charge of the merged tribal districts — an influential, and potentially lucrative post. Later, he became the adviser on information, another potentially lucrative job. In his time in the cabinet, he has been involved in conflicts with much of the party’s old guard, emerging victorious each time. Until now, that is. The PTI could have nipped this in the bud. But ‘somehow’, like every other parachute, the party appears to value him far more than those that gave their blood, sweat and tears for the party. Reports suggest that the recording was made in June and has been known among the PTI leadership for a few weeks.

We already know that the party’s leadership has been averse to holding leaders accountable until forced to do so. Even then, there have been exceptions. The sugar inquiry is one of the more recent examples. As it stands, Wazir appears to be accusing K-P Health Minister Taimur Jhagra and his ministry. Social media, which helped bust Wazir, has also been speculating that other leading PTI figures are involved in this scam, as familial bonds tie the National Assembly to the ad agency. We wonder if these will be looked into during the inquiry or will be ignored until the cancer has metastasised.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2020.

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