PTI workers irked over mandatory fees

A now withdrawn circular sparked outrage amongst members at bottom of party hierarchy

LAHORE:

Disgruntled workers of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have come out in strong opposition to a now withdrawn circular regarding mandatory monthly party funding.

According to details, the PTI Central Finance Board issued a circular under which the officials of all organisations from regional to union council level were required to deposit the prescribed amount in the party fund, but the officials of central organisations were not included in this letter. The money raised under the mandatory partnership, one insider said, is used for establishment and maintenance of PTI organisational offices

As the notification spread across the country, a strong reaction from PTI workers and leaders followed. It was said that workers and leaders have been neglected for three years but now they are being forced to pay extortion every month in the name of party donations.

Taking a jab at the party leadership, PTI Gujranwala leaders Syed Hussain Jafari, Chaudhry Azmat and others said: “In the first notification, you mentioned the method of collecting party funds (jaga tax) from ordinary workers, but you should also have mentioned the chief organiser of the party, the party’s central organisation, the chief ministers, federal and provincial ministers, senators and members of the national and provincial Assemblies elected on party tickets who receive millions of benefits daily in the name of the party.”

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As per the details available with The Express Tribune, the majority of union council-level organizational officials are white-collar and small business owners. Objections were raised by these workers that it is unfair to receive Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 5,000 from them every month.

“These are the people [central organisation] who are taking the real benefits of the PTI government, we ordinary workers get nothing but fruitless struggle everywhere,” said disgruntled party workers.

Even though the previous circular was replaced with a new one, under which all the central organisations were included in the financial partnership and the monthly funding rate reduced, discontent amongst the political party’s workers remains.

“Our great leader Imran Khan often says that accountability always goes from the top to the bottom. So, sir, in the first notification itself, the issue of party funds should have started from the top and came down, but this was done only when the workers protested,” said leaders from the party’s Gujranwala wing.

Lamenting about the party’s behavior towards ordinary workers for the past three years, they added, “Certainly, parties can appeal for funds but do not impose them and most importantly, respect those from whom you are expecting funds.”

Fixing faults

In a bid to right its wrong, the revised circular issued by the PTI imposed a monthly contribution of Rs 20,000 and 10,000 on the central governing body and executive committee, respectively. Additionally, a monthly charge of Rs 15,000 has been placed on the regional governing body and 7,500 on the regional executive committee.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13^th, 2021.