PTI panel divided over Swati verdict

Serious differences have emerged within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) internal accountability committee over the clean chit given to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati regarding allegations of corruption and illegal recruitment.

Committee members, former Governor Shah Farman and Mosaddiq Abbasi, have raised concerns after a report by fellow committee member Qazi Anwar appeared in the media. The report declared Babar Saleem Swati innocent of the allegations.

The accountability committee had earlier sent a questionnaire to the Speaker concerning complaints of illegal appointments in the K-P Assembly. Swati submitted his written response to the committee.

However, Qazi Anwar's report - based on the speaker's replies - surfaced in the media and cleared him of any wrongdoing, prompting strong reservations from other committee members.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the three members of the PTI's internal accountability committee disagreed among themselves on the report.

They said that the report which appeared in the media has not been issued by the committee but by a member of the committee. According to sources, internal reports in such cases are not made public but are sent directly to the party chief.

The report was to be sent by the committee to Imran Khan, which was made public prematurely.

On the other hand, a committee member said that he could not comment on the report at this time. This matter will be discussed only after consulting the founding chairman.

He said that this committee was formed by the founding chairman, and the report of every matter will also be submitted to him.

The report can be called an official report when signed by the three members of the committee and a report by one member could be called his personal opinion.