Crisis management: PTI leadership puts AJIP’s concerns to rest

“AJIP is our strongest coalition partner and we hope to continue this partnership,” says CM Khattak.

SWABI:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has reportedly reconciled its differences with Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan (AJIP).

AJIP is a coalition partner of PTI in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government and has also actively participated in the sit-ins in Islamabad. However, AJIP Chairman Shahram Khan Tarakai told journalists at a news conference on Monday that the PTI was ignoring his party’s contribution to the protests in Islamabad.

According to the AJIP chairman, one of its activists had lost his life during a clash between law-enforcement personnel on November 30. However, no one from the PTI offered condolence to the bereaved family. Moreover, Tarakai said he had been invited to address the participants of the protests only once. He even voiced intention to break away from the coalition.

A jirga comprising PTI leaders visited the house of AJIP Chairman Shahram Tarakai in Swabi on Wednesday. During a meeting behind closed doors, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said the differences between both parties were purely based on a misunderstanding. He insisted that PTI did not intend to undermine AJIP’s contributions to the sit-ins in Islamabad.

“AJIP is our strongest coalition partner and we hope to continue this partnership,” said the chief minister.

Speaking at the meeting, Tarakai informed the PTI leadership about his party’s concerns.

Addressing a gathering of activists from both parties, PTI’s General Secretary Jahangir Tareen deemed AJIP’s reservations as valid. “We have come to Swabi on the special directives of PTI chief Imran Khan to address our coalition partner’s reservations,” said Tareen.

According to the party’s general secretary, the provincial government has a series of initiatives in the pipeline which can only be realised through the support of its coalition partner.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2014.