18th anniversary celebrations: PTI founders aggrieved over Imran Khan’s ‘snub’

Claim ‘corrupt lot’ who joined the party at later stages are to blame for present mess.

PESHAWAR:

Dr Afzal Khan, one of the founding members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, was dejected when party chairman Imran Khan failed to attend a gathering organised to celebrate the party’s 18th anniversary.

After all, in 1997 it was at Afzal’s hujra in the city where the party’s launch was celebrated.

Afzal, who is also witness to the selection of party colours, was surprised to learn that Imran did not attend the celebrations, especially since almost all the party’s founding members were present there.

“It was very strange as Imran did not even bother to reply to our invitation,” he said, expressing sorrow that the party chairman has been ‘hijacked’.

Corrupt elements which became part of the PTI at later stages are the reason why the party is being criticised today, claimed Afzal. The original members are still associated with the party, but, he added, they will never join hands with those who joined the party to achieve their “evil” objectives.

“We launched the party to end the VIP culture in the country,” Afzal told The Express Tribune.

Zahid Mohmand, one of the 16 members who launched PTI in K-P, said the party chairman was unhappy with them for holding a parallel programme. Imran chose to celebrate the party with the newer members, added Mohmand.

“A corrupt lot is sitting at the centre.  We had strong reservations over the intra-party elections as those who sacrificed the most were ignored,” said Mohmand.

The distribution of tickets for the elections had further alienated the old guard, he shared.

Mohmand alleged Imran was surrounded by billionaires who cloud his judgment, which is why they held a separate gathering to celebrate the party’s 18th anniversary.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2014.