Apparent cracks: Imran asks K-P CM to relinquish party office

PTI members voice discontent with senior leaders holding multiple portfolios.


Hassan Ali July 05, 2013
Almost all key PTI provincial leaders hold dual portfolios, which has greatly compromised the party’s position in the province. This has compelled Imran Khan to ask the K-P CM to relinquish his position. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE

PESHAWAR:


In an effort to streamline party affairs, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan asked Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak to relinquish his position as the party’s central general secretary, The Express Tribune has learnt.


In the first Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting held after the general elections, the party’s leadership on Friday discussed various issues ranging from dual portfolios held by PTI members to causes of the defeat on May 11.

Almost all key PTI provincial leaders hold dual portfolios, which has greatly compromised the party’s position in the province and its activities in the rest of the country. This has compelled Imran Khan to ask the K-P CM to relinquish his position.

During the meeting, Khattak insisted he could carry both portfolios by exclusively managing party affairs on the weekends and addressing provincial matters during the remainder of the week, according to a senior party leader requesting anonymity.

After an unsuccessful attempt at convincing the chairman, the CM, who was greatly worried about increasing rifts in the party at grassroots levels, reportedly said he would prefer his party position.



CEC members also objected over K-P General Secretary Shaukat Yousafzai keeping four portfolios simultaneously, informed the person familiar with the matter. Yousafzai currently holds the positions of PTI provincial general secretary, information and health minister and spokesperson for the provincial government.

Earlier, during the first session of the provincial assembly, PTI Provincial President Asad Qaiser, who ignored the long-standing tradition of relinquishing his party portfolio after taking oath as speaker of the assembly, also refused to give up his party office when the opposition benches raised objections over the new speaker’s questionable impartiality.

With more than half of the PTI’s top leaders in K-P enjoying lucrative government portfolios, since May 11 the party has failed to convene a provincial executive council meeting. Recently, several senior leaders also opposed the party’s decision on tickets for by-elections, accusing the provincial and central leadership of nepotism.

PTI Peshawar President and Provincial Minister Atif Khan confirmed “some CEC members raised objections regarding senior officials holding dual offices.” Atif added, however, after much discussion it was decided they will discuss the matter at the next CEC meeting.

Atif, who is also a CEC member, further informed it was decided a white paper would be published regarding allegations of rigging in the general elections. “Wherever people have proof regarding foul play in the elections, we will publish a white paper so the people know how the PTI’s mandate was manipulated.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2013.

COMMENTS (46)

Col Badsha(retd) | 10 years ago | Reply

My Most Respected Imran Bhai! AOA! I thank Allah that you have recovered to take this Precious and most Sacred of oaths for the sake of downtrodden Pakistanis-the greatest Nation in this Universe. Sending this most essential Message: Once I met you at Kohat approximately sixteen years ago, first I briefed you on my first book and then mentioned three points for your future. You told me that you were highly impressed and that you would call me to Lahore for a detailed meeting-but you did not. Obviously you suffered on so many counts. Similarly the highly Respected Nawaz Sharif also promised during my first meeting at Murree but he also did not call me and suffered a lot. Once I met him second time in Madinah Munawwarah, he acknowledged his mistake and asked me his future chance. I told him that he will get a third chance but he should not repeat the same mistakes again. Pakistan is extremely lucky to be benefitting from both of your Precious Leadership at this crucial time. You require Spiritual guidance and input for taking out Pakistan from the present quagmire. You are a Selected Man with the opportunity to perform that Miracle for Pakistan but you require a Plan of Action. Do not commit the same mistake of not consulting with me, otherwise on the Day of Judgment you will be held accountable to Allah as to why you wasted this Precious Chance of Steering Pakistan out of this present quagmire onto a Solid Platform for an effective Role at the World level. Contact at your earliest before it is too late and capitalize on this unique opportunity to serve the down trodden people of Pakistan-Precious Gift of Allah. I will by the Grace of Allah explain in detail the Spiritual Guidelines for your Conduct. Contact on: mabadsha@gmail.com 03339232724,

Muslim Leaguer | 10 years ago | Reply

Why doesn't Imran Khan apply the rules on himself? Why is he the parliamentary leader of PTI and simultaneously it's Lifetime Chairman?? The much-trumpeted intra-party elections was a drama since all the big offices were retained unopposed viz. Imran Khan being Chairman for yet another term (since inception in 1996), Makhdoomzada Shah Mahmood Qureshi being unopposed Vice Chairman (since his jumping in PTI in November 2011), Makhdoom Javed Hashmi being unopposed President (since his jumping in PTI in December 2011), Maulana Azam Swati being unopposed Senior Vice President (since his jumping in PTI in December 2011).... Strange, but true!! Similarly, Imran Khan's school-mate Pervez Khattak had lost the intra-party elections yet he has been made Chief Minister. All the above examples prove that PTI is simply a social media hoax that have never lived by its words.

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