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
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.
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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,
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.
@Muhammad Usman: because party parliamentary leader is not a public office.
Didnt I read on Tribune a few days ago about how the constitution required the CM to relinquish his party office? why has that little fact not made it to this report?
@Aamer: I agree that the PTI is not able to turned its votes into seats but they have the votes. Name any other party that was able to get votes from the strong holds of MQM (Sind), Punjab (Southern and strong holds of PMLN) and KPK.
@Saim Baig:
Ever heard of the remark "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senator,_you%27re_no_Jack_Kennedy
@Asad NYC: u gotta be kidding me with that 'national level' party thing, how many seats did PTI exactly get from Sindh & Balochistan?
@Asad: Obviously you are just a propaganda machine. We are just one month out. If you were intellectually honest and unbiased being, you would have given them at least a year prior to going for these premature comments.
@taimoor: pmln is not a party. It is just a crowd of electables and hop ons..It has almost zero presence in Sind. PTI is the only nation wide grass root political party that has presence in all 4 provinces. PTI was not only able to get votes from the main Azzizabad - MQM strong hold But also got them from KPK and Punjab. So some respect please :)
People of #KP getting fed up of working style of #PTI leadership. All they are concerned about their ministries and looking after the interest of Taliban brothers. People dying in bomb blast but nobody turns up at bomb site, even at funerals! Later, they shamelessly say, 'janazay pe janay se laash wapas nahi aa jayegi"!!! People of #KP will throw you out soon. Just wait and watch!
I am not from PTI but ultimate effects of inside action in PTI will have positive affects.It is a start so no need to feel happy about it.
@Ahmad: According to you PTI leadership is honest but Pakistan nation is corrupt in general. Can I dare to ask from which country PTI leadership is imported? Is this leadership not part of this society.
they are too busy solving their party issues , they will have no time to solve people issues
Speaker National Assembly not only resigned from his post of finance secretary of pmln but also left the party membership to ensure impartiality. Pmln sets examples, while pti can't even follow rules and constitution. This is Insaf.
Speaker National Assembly was a pmln member. He resigned not only from his post of pmln finance secretary, but also resigned from pmln membership for the sake of impartiality. Pmln set examples, but pti can't even follow the constitution.
nawaz sharif resign from party as a chairman ?
what happen if they have both portfolio
Its a democratic party dear not a family limited party where every decision is made by the KING him self of King's brother or relative. So I think we are not used to democratic norms at all.
CM KPK ready to give away his CM post but not party position...this is the dedication towards the party,,,secondly dual posts only apply to speaker,CM and ministers...only PTI is doing such changes whereas other parties are having life time offices
besides the fact that any good thing being discussed in the PTI leadership circle is portrayed as a rift in the party or lack of discipline by a certain newspapers n tv channels..............
my biggest question to tribune is.....are ur photographers blind or handicapped....was this the best pic ur ppr ever had the opportunity to take of the gorgeous IK.....pathetic really!
@Amin....well we are in gov in KP...n ur precious Sharifs in federal n in Punjab....wanna bet who performs n who doesnt?
IK is backtracking all his decision, but piece by piece. He is most short sighted and short tempered president of a political party in Pakistan. Real disaster is yet to come when he will refuse to use force against Talibaans.
@Falcon: The day IK takes up a key governance position such as Opposition Leader or NAB chairman, this would be a very valid concern. But as of now, he is only an MNA.
Then what the fuss is all about. Those songs, unending political ads during elections, all the bashing on social media, comparing him with Kulafa e Rashdin R.A.(Astaghfar). You want Pakistanis to present him premiership in a platter. Only then his "true abilities " would come out. PTIans is there any limit to your foolishness ??
@Talha: Really?? I suppose Shahbaz Shareef holding 5 ministries is the Model of good governance.
PTI is a new party, and they have the guts to take strong decisions like this one. Only an idiot would think of it as a blight.
Come back when PML-N starts instilling discipline amongst its ranks
Great work IK.
Great work Imran Khan. I really appreciate.
Expected. But I would appreciate IK on this one.
Immature party with incompetent leadership. simply a waste of Human resource and the our vote.
Pakistani Politics is a drama!
ET keep a strong eye on PTI activities
@Muhammad Usman: The day IK takes up a key governance position such as Opposition Leader or NAB chairman, this would be a very valid concern. But as of now, he is only an MNA.
@Saim Baig: you have definitely lost your mind; dynamics of pakistani politics is PPP v PMLN and Pti seems to be the new village idiot
Dynamics of Pakistani politics has changed from pro Bhutto/Anti Bhutto to Pro PTI/Anti PTI
These people were claiming to end terrorism in 19 days, and finish corruption in 90 days!!! Thank God people did not fall for their "sabz Bagh" in rest of Pakistan.
@curious What is the need to do so when people like you are so busy doing Anti PTI trolling!!
Take interest in politics in 2017 till then enjoy your life
The best way to stop all the infighting in PTI is for IK to keep all the posts for himself. There is no other leader in PTI who is not a controversial figure. All those greedy politicians who have joined PTI are not going to give up their positions and perks even the speaker of KPK assembly!
And some days back ET told us that Imran Khan flew to UK for 14 days on his personal visit. This newspaper is just a propaganda machine nothing more!
@Amin: Yes, good thing PMLN won. Sharifs to the rescue!!! For the 3rd time...
PTI has a good honest leader and therefore they are progressing. My concern however is at the dishonesty of the Pakistani people in general. Right from a ganitor to the president an over whelming majority of Pakistanis are dishonest and short sighted. I wonder if Imran is amking the same mistake as Jinnah made. re we as a nation worth it?
Mr khan set own house in order and fulfill party manifesto in kpk rather than focusing on issues of least importance.
Ah, leave it to ET to put a negative spin on anything PTI.
Welcome to the wiorld of politics, not quite cricket is it?
Now imagine if pti won and they ruled the country, what would happen!! Good thing they didn't.
Imran holds party chairman and parliamentry leader.same is for shah mahmood . why dont apply these rules to yourself. hupocracy
an hour passed without any comment by pti trolls? unbelievable!