Back and forth: ‘Swati distributed tickets unlawfully’
The former GS said he stopped attending party meetings after Swati deviated from the formula
PTI provincial president Azam Swati. PHOTO: PPI
PESHAWAR:
While parties continue to muster support for local government elections, dust kicked up by PTI’s provincial set-up does not seem to settle.
Addressing a press conference at his house on Friday, PTI’s former provincial general secretary Khalid Masood accused the party’s K-P president, Azam Swati, of distributing party tickets in violation of the pre-decided formula. “Swati distributed tickets by honouring requests of party lawmakers,” he said. Masood added he voluntarily resigned over differences and was not forced to give up office. The former GS said he stopped attending party meetings after Swati deviated from the formula approved by senior vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi. “I will continue to serve the party’s cause as a worker,” he said, adding he distanced himself from the office solely over organisational differences.
Masood said he has faith in the party’s slogan of change and wanted the party’s parliamentary boards to autonomously award tickets based on their judgment of merit.
A Chinese wall
Talking about the storm that lashed Peshawar and adjoining areas on Sunday, Masood said party office-bearers have nothing to do with the K-P government’s performance.
Not elected
“Swati and I were elevated to the positions after Asad Qaiser and Shaukat Yousafzai resigned,” he said, adding the two leaders were elected party office-bearers while he and Swati were not.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2015.
While parties continue to muster support for local government elections, dust kicked up by PTI’s provincial set-up does not seem to settle.
Addressing a press conference at his house on Friday, PTI’s former provincial general secretary Khalid Masood accused the party’s K-P president, Azam Swati, of distributing party tickets in violation of the pre-decided formula. “Swati distributed tickets by honouring requests of party lawmakers,” he said. Masood added he voluntarily resigned over differences and was not forced to give up office. The former GS said he stopped attending party meetings after Swati deviated from the formula approved by senior vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi. “I will continue to serve the party’s cause as a worker,” he said, adding he distanced himself from the office solely over organisational differences.
Masood said he has faith in the party’s slogan of change and wanted the party’s parliamentary boards to autonomously award tickets based on their judgment of merit.
A Chinese wall
Talking about the storm that lashed Peshawar and adjoining areas on Sunday, Masood said party office-bearers have nothing to do with the K-P government’s performance.
Not elected
“Swati and I were elevated to the positions after Asad Qaiser and Shaukat Yousafzai resigned,” he said, adding the two leaders were elected party office-bearers while he and Swati were not.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2015.