PTI chief Imran Khan. PHOTO: AFP
Recent dismissals from the provincial cabinet were made on grounds of corruption but were given the less humiliating guise of ‘poor performance’. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly’s opposition parties made these accusations after two Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers were sacked following an internal pressure group’s demands that PTI get rid of “corrupt elements”.
According to members of opposition parties, PTI had promised to end corruption and nepotism but failed to officially identify the same in its own party, “fearing humiliation”. This is diametrically opposite of when the provincial government sacked Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) MPAs from the cabinet over dishonesty, complained the disgruntled opposition.
“The 14-member pressure group launched their movement against corruption in the cabinet. And soon after former minister for industries Shaukat Yousafzai, and ex-adviser to the chief minister on transport Yaseen Khalil were sacked, the group publicly said 80% of their grievances were addressed”, Awami National Party Senator Zahid told The Express Tribune.
“The nation remembers his (Imran Khan) first speech when he said he will never lie to them. But even though his own party members identified the two cabinet members as indulging in corruption, they were officially removed for ‘bad performance’ – this suggests Imran Khan has lied,” said Zahid.
Sikandar Sherpao, QWP’s parliamentary leader in the K-P Assembly, also agreed with this interpretation. “This shows double standards on part of the PTI,” claimed Sherpao.
“PTI’s disgruntled members publicly said they will not tolerate corruption which was why the two cabinet members were removed. However, whenever Imran Khan faces criticism, he creates issues to divert public attention.”
According to Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentary leader Muhammad Ali Shah, this incident was meant to save face. “See, it all happened because of the pressure group which pinpointed corrupt elements. As far as I know, two more will be leaving the cabinet and I wonder what would be the official charges against them,” said Shah.
However, Adviser to Prime Minsiter Nawaz Sharif Amir Muqam claimed there were a number of other PTI members in the provincial assembly who indulged in corrupt practices. But, he added, the PTI leadership did a wise job by removing only those who would put up least resistance.
The official notification on the removal of two cabinet members stated ‘bad performance’ as a reason for the dismissal.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2014.
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@Hassan: You comparison stands utterly invalid since PTI is the only non corrupt party lead by a visionary leader who sought to end corruption, fix the police, conduct local government elections and bring out conflict of interest all in a whopping 90 days. This is all what they said and if you have to do comparisons to justify PTI not so remarkable performance then you just proved the point, PTI is much like the other parties only slightly better maybe.
I wonder the people who are criticizing PTI, has any moral grounds. Wondering we were a nation of good moral value & honesty even 35- 40 years ago (At least much better). We all critcise everyone who is doing good job even but don't say if anyone doing anything wrong.
The half glass isn't better then empty one?
Are these members of the opposition parties condemning or commending PTI??? PTI has at-least done something against corruption and incompetency, what others have done?? They deliberately choose the most corrupt and incompetent for their ranks.
@Corrupt
I wasn't justifying PTI treatment. I was merely doing a comparison.
As commendable as it is that pti members themselves identified and instigated the removal of its own corrupt members, on whatever charges it happened is irrelevant, the fact that pti and imran khan went about shopping for seats in the last election in the hope of garnering a majority, despite the well known corruption and nepotism of their newly inducted members, should make it obvious that corruption is and will be rampant in pti led governments and should come as no surprise to us. Pti is just another party in a long list of democratic shenanigans and any hope of any sort of improvement in governance by pti will be wishful thinking and unwise.
PPP , ANP etc are claiming "PTI sacked ministers because of corruption"
Thanks for vindicating that's exactly the reason I voted for them. Did PPP, ANP PMLN sacked ministers for corruption?
Answer might help you which party to vote for next time.
@hassan: two wrongs don't make a right!!! Speak of pti on a standalone basis in respect to their promises, not in respect to others. That's just sad.
Sight me one examplw where another party has done the same, i.e. sacking thier on minister either on bad performance or corruption.
Good to see the opposition parties (PML(N), PPP & ANP) hold high standards for PTI, only if they had applied fraction of these standards to their own parties, Pakistan would have been a different place today
for your info ET PTI proved that it could take a stand against its own ministers & dismiss them. when pti dismissed its collation partner QWP ministers, these opposition parties were saying that pti saved its ministers but now that PTI have removed its own 2 members from the cabinet. the opposition have no choice but to raise fake issue of "double standards" which is cleared by PTI by its recent Action.