Poll drubbing triggers soul searching in PTI

CM seeks report on MPAs who worked against party

PESHAWAR:

The provincial leadership of Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to take strict action against party members who will be found responsible for PTI’s crushing defeat in the recent local bodies’ polls in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

PTI sources told The Express Tribune that decision has been made to take action against the party leaders and members provincial assembly (MPAs) and their lists have been sought.

“The provincial leadership has ordered that the lists of those party leaders who are responsible for this defeat should be submitted and a separate report has been sought about the reason which led to the defeat of PTI,” said the official, adding that the central leadership including PM Imran Khan is really upset by the setback faced by PTI.

It is worth mentioning here that the PTI faced an unexpected defeat in the recent local bodies’ elections in all 17 districts as in Peshawar it was able to win only one Tehsil mayor seat out of seven. Overall PTI also failed to impress voters in Charsadda, Bannu, Southern areas and other districts.

This has forced the Chief Minister Mahmood Khan to take notice of the situation and he ordered an inquiry into the party’s defeat. The report would be submitted to him which will be then sent to PM Imran Khan.

“The party leadership and CM Mahmood Khan have also decided to take action against party leaders and MPAs who worked against PTI candidates leaving the part divided and voters confused,” he said, adding that the CM will be provided with a complete report about constituencies where PTI workers and party leaders actually supported their own candidates instead of rendering a helping hand to party candidates.

“Once the report is submitted to CM Mahmood Khan then in the first phase those MPAs and party leaders would be issued notices and they would be asked to clarify their position and in the second phase the report would be sent to PM Imran Khan who would approve strict action against them,” claimed another party source.

When contacted provincial minister Shaukat Yousafzai told The Express Tribune that strict action would be taken against those who worked against the party and a decision has already been made in this regard.

“There will be no compromise on the party discipline. Investigations are underway in this regard and those found involved in working against the party with concrete proof would face severe action,” he added.

It may be noted here that PTI was greatly divided on the issue of party tickets as there were more candidates and less seats. This took the workers away from the party as they blamed that party tickets had been given to only rich people rather than on the basis of party affiliation. In the end it was decided that the powers to issue tickets would be given to district leadership which displeased the MPAs and MNAs who wanted tickets for their own supporters.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2021.