PTI rejects S Babar’s ‘irrelevant’ objections

Spokesperson says founding member's criticism of party's organisational matters lacks legal standing

PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD:

As the party appears to remain mired in internal quagmires, PTI’s central spokesperson Moazzam Butt on Monday lashed out at Akbar S. Babar's ongoing objections over the intra-party polls, asserting the founding member held no sway over the party's organisational matters.

On the other hand, the party's founding member intensified his rhetoric against the "bogus" intra-party polls, lamenting that he, along with other founding members, were sidelined and deprived of their constitutional rights to contest the elections.

Addressing a press conference, PTI's central spokesperson dismissed the objections, saying they lacked any legal standing due to his departure from PTI thirteen years ago.

Butt was accompanied by Insaf Lawyers Forum (ILF) leaders Adeel Butt Advocate, Humira Gul Advocate, Shah Faisal Ilyas Advocate, Kulsoom Kundi, and others.

Speaking about the party’s intra-party elections that saw Barrister Gohar Khan being elected as PTI chairman, the spokesperson lamented that the Election Commission of Pakistan had “imposed” an intra-party election for PTI.

Nonetheless, the party diligently fulfilled the process, he added.

“Barrister Gohar was elected chairman. Omar Ayub Khan secured the position of central general secretary, while Ali Amin Gandapur was elected as the president of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, all lauded for their capabilities, hard work, and loyalty.”

However, he reiterated that Imran Khan remains the undisputed leader in the eyes of all cadres even today.

Read Barrister Gohar elected as PTI's new chairman

He also criticised Governor Ghulam Ali for delaying election dates, accusing the move of straying from constitutional obligations and potentially steering the country toward a crisis.

Criticising the imposition of Section 144 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the PTI leader criticised the crackdown on party gatherings, and raids on party workers' residences, and decried the violation of privacy.

‘Bogus intra-party polls’

On the other hand, the party’s founder member Akbar S. Babar sharpened his rhetoric against PTI, raising serious objections and labelling the process as a mere theatrical performance.

He called for setting the election aside and forming an intra-party election commission to address the organisation's pressing issues.

In a video statement released addressing the former chairman of the party, Imran Khan, Babar revealed that, alongside himself and other founding members, Imran Khan's cousin, Saeedullah Niazi, wanted to contest the intra-party election but was denied the opportunity to do so.

Expressing concern for PTI's future, Babar highlighted the precarious state of the party and its symbol, the "bat." He emphasised that the organisation was grappling with challenges.

Demanding adherence to the party constitution, he stressed the necessity of providing a voter list in line with the party's regulatory framework. He lamented the deprivation of fundamental democratic rights for founding members, leaders, and workers of the party, urging PTI's governance in strict accordance with its constitution.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2023.