PTI expels 11 dissident UC chairmen

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh Chairman Haleem Adil Sheikh has issued termination letters to 11 Union Council (UC) chairmen for not showing up in the mayoral election and not voting for Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman.

JI had lost to PPP simply because its allies did not show up on the final day. PPP being the single largest party in the Karachi Mdty

The letter stated, "The termination letter has been issued for your absence on election-day 15-06-2-23, committing in complete defiance to party's directives".

In the identical expulsion order he wrote to the said UC chairmen, Sheikh said your basic membership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf stands terminated immediately for your absence on June 15 the election day and committing misconduct in complete defiance to the party directives issued by PTI Sindh chairman as well as by the PTI Parliamentary leader Muhammad Mubashir Hafizul Haque.

Sheikh reminded that PTI chief Imran Khan had ordered party's LG representatives to support the candidates of Jamaat Islami contesting elections for the mayor and deputy mayor Karachi Metropolitan Corporation with the direction for all elected members of KMC to cast vote in favor of Naeemur Rahman as mayor and Saifuddin as deputy mayor.

Furthermore, PTI Sindh president told the expelled members that they were defending theri defection with impunity and appearing on electronic media and trying to get the loyalty of other Members of KMC changed.

"Your reply dated 21-06-2023 to the Show Cause Notice written on stereo type slipshod manner (all member of your defection group headed by you wrote identical reply) is found unsatisfactory," Sheikh told the expelled members adding, "you have committed offence chargeable under Article 63(A) of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973, Section 231 of the Election Act, 2017 read with Section 36(k) of SLGA 2013. You are hereby expelled from Pakistan Tehreek -e- Insaf Immediately."

The 11 expelled UC chairman included, UC-4 TMC Mominabad chairman Asadullah Khan, UC-6 TMC Mominabad chairman Salahuddin Haq, UC-5 TMC Mominabad chairman Amjad Ali, UC-3 TMC Malir Asim Haider, UC-2 TMC Saddar Aslam Khan, Candidate for reserved women seats Sanober Farhan, UC-2 TMC Chairman Mariro Mirbahar Zubair Musa, UC-7 TMC Mominabad vice-chairman Muhammad Kabir, UC-1 TMC Lyari Chairman Abdul Ghani, UC-15 TMC Manghopir chairman Azizullah M. Sheikh, UC-5 TMC Shah Faisal Chairman Suleman Khan Haider.

In a significant achievement, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidates Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui and Salman Abdullah Murad emerged victorious in the mayorship and deputy mayorship elections of Karachi on June 15.

The duo secured a total of 173 votes, marking a historic moment for the PPP as they attain these positions in Karachi for the first time. The official notification is scheduled to be issued today, formally confirming their success.

The mayoral candidate from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, and the deputy mayor candidate, Saifuddin, received 160 votes. However, the absence of 31 members from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and one member from the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) prevented Jamaat-e-Islami from securing victory.

PTI's Firdous Shamim Naqvi did not cast his vote as he opted to retain his Sindh Assembly seat.

Two days before the show of hands polling for the mayor and deputy, PTI UC Chairman Asad Aman and other elected UC chairmen had claimed that around 40 PTI UC chairmen will not go to the House on the day of mayoral election. Aman told the media that JI always strongly opposed PTI and elected members of PTI will not vote for Hafiz Naeemur Rehman. He said that the elected members are independent in their decision.Members do not have any pressure.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2023.