The logo of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. PHOTO: FILE
Disgruntled MPAs of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have decided to boycott parliamentary committee meetings until their grievances are addressed, The Express Tribune learnt on Tuesday.
According to sources privy to a meeting, the pressure group has objections over two major portfolios given to PTI’s coalition partners in the government.
The insider added a meeting was held among four pressure group lawmakers on Monday in the chambers of the assembly’s deputy speaker in which the MPAs expressed reservations on the allocation of portfolios.
“The disgruntled members claim that by giving two major portfolios to coalition partners, PTI will have to face the public’s resentment,” the insider added.
Requesting anonymity, a PTI MPA said the people of K-P gave PTI the mandate but the credit of governance will go to Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan (AJIP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) since they have the health and local government ministries, respectively.
“Are we not competent enough to run the health ministry,” the unhappy lawmaker questioned. He added the pressure group members will not attend meetings of parliamentary committees until their grievances are addressed.
“Imran Khan promised that our issues will be addressed in three months, and notifications of the appointment of newly-inducted ministers into the provincial cabinet will be put on hold,” said the lawmaker.
“People have expectations from us (PTI) but we will never be able to facilitate them, particularly in the matters of health and local government. This will be detrimental for us,” he added.
Another PTI legislator said, “Our resignations are still with the deputy speaker and whenever we feel that we are being taken lightly, we will not hesitate to give a green signal to the deputy speaker to accept them.”
“If one MPA leaves the assembly, the entire group will follow,” he added, reiterating the pressure group’s pledge.
The pressure group, comprising around 14 PTI MPAs, has time and again claimed that they are not interested in getting any portfolios. The say their aim is to remove corrupt elements from the provincial cabinet. They are also against the central leadership’s alleged inference in provincial matters.
Meanwhile, PTI chief Imran Khan strongly condemned the attacks on police in Peshawar and Charsadda.
In a statement issued from the PTI’s media cell, the party chairman expressed deep sorrow on the loss of lives and extended his sympathies to the bereaved families. The statement adds the party chairman has directed the provincial government to launch an enquiry and bring the culprits to justice.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 23rd, 2014.
COMMENTS (18)
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@Sceptic Its always about party and person who is leading that party. We do have IK now and these politician with so called experience are used to have portfolios in other parties, just to fill the gaps without delivering anything. IK altogether pull that string in different fashion, which is new for them. This maturity needs time, which is quite new for Pakistan politics
ET printing this news is like them having an orgy
why no news abt the differences in the party of nora league over the matter of relation with the army
First they say they are not interested in ministries. Then they say the only issue that they have is that they didn't get health and local government ministry. I think these disgruntled MPA's should be marked by PTI and make sure they don't get tickets in future.
@Adnan Siddiqi: you are full of it by leveling allegations against all these PTI folks.. Do you have any proof? Please share with us if you have any proof so that we know that you are not full of it....
While you are at it, please also share with us how zardari and sharif families have looted Pakistan. I know a book can be written about their corruption so we just need a few major cases against these families.. your time start now .. 1 ...2... 3...
I thought they had complaint about corruption BUT clearly not. They want more power/ministries. Imran Khan (PTI) should indeed kick them out. These 14 guys need to understand one thing. PTI does not have absolute majority and power has to be shared with its coaltion partners. These 24 guys have NO CASE. These shiould be kicked.
Everyone says this is the PTI's first time in power/govt .. If the implication is as individuals then majority of PTI law makers have at least 25-30 yrs of experience in politics, as members of JI/Q-League etc .. If the implication is as a party then again you have to be a party to fulfill that role, not a hastily put together mish mash of disparate politicians rejected by their own parties before elections :-p
First they were forward block after that they became Pressure group. now it is confirmed that they are blackmailers.
If we need to correct ourselves then the leadership will have to take difficult decision that is what IK is doing.Good luck IK. These 14 MPA's cannot blackmail PTI and it's ideology or merit and corruption free province of KPK.
@Rambo: So,You want to exploite those 14 MPAs for 5 years.The future of PTI is very dark and it is going into 2 parts.
@ Adnan Siddiqui Political maturity comes with time. Hats off to IK who gave new hope to this nation. Otherwise its not so easy to make your mark in corrupt political landscape run by parties since decades
@Adnan Siddiqi: "CM Parvez Khattak is a certified tax defaulter " Really, no one ever raised this objection, you seems to be highly informed (or misinformed). Please share the proofs!
@Omer Janjua:
I felt a hint of pun in your post directed towards PTI.
@ Adnan Siddiqui Whatever you written looks like you made it by yourself. These people were not up to the mark in delivering thats why IK sacked them. Today, if they get portfolio, everything will be OK. This is a mentality of this nation, not IK. Punjab is inundated with these kind of ministers, the only difference is that you guys matured all these years and PTI is having its first term. There is a difference. In politics you need time to get mature,
@Rambo:
Lol on merit! Mind telling us as to what benchmarks of merit did those 3 MPA's from QWP meet who ended up getting canned for corruption, allegedly? While you are at it, also explain that despite a lapse of six months, no formal charge of corruption and graft was brought forth against these ministers........MERIT!
CM Parvez Khattak is a certified tax defaulter and yet he is the executive head of KPK. Shaukat Yousafzai benefiting his privately run newspapers through government sponsored advertisements and making millions while being the Minister of Information of KPK. Asad Qaiser recommending his constituents for KPK government jobs in blatant disregard of procedures and merit while being the incumbent speaker of KPK assembly.
That's some example of "Merit" in PTI and I am sure that you are mighty proud of it as well.
Khan, make sure that these blackmailers threats are met in kind. No space in PTI for them. Thank you
"Not interested in portfolios".... Very funny. So what happend? You got elected by using IK's name and now you are rejecting his decisions, destabilizing KP government, ruining PTI's image and above all pulling Pakhtunkhwa which is already worn and torn by corrupt people to an uncertain and hopeless situation. I'm sure all of your constituants are as much disappointed at you as much I'm.
With every passing day frustration amongst party workers/ citizens is growing over PTI's inaction against the known corrupt ministers. Sports one was 'absolved' in the one sided inquiry that found his subordinates guilty. Meanwhile, ex-health minister keeps proclaiming on the floor of the house he is still health minister. Do not disappoint your voters PTI
What is the problem with those 14 MPA's? What do they want? Why are they dying for getting portfolios? IK said that protfolios will be given only on merit basis. First these MPA's should show that they have the guts to perform then ask for the ministries. Shame on them. They should be removed now or when the 5 year term gets over.