Widening cracks: PTI workers protest against Shah Mehmood

Say Imran Khan has ignored their complaints against him

MULTAN:

Hundreds of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) workers in Multan on Wednesday staged a demonstration against PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, saying party chairman Imran Khan should keep a check on his activities.

The demonstration was followed by a press conference at Multan Press Club.

Some 500 workers of the PTI participated in the protest.

As many as 30 senior members of the party, including Former PTI office bearers including Jawad Amin, former information secretary, Farrukh zubair, former general secretary, also took part in the protest.

Addressing the press conference, former district vice president Saleem Bukhari said he had joined the PTI two decades ago.

“Ever since Qureshi joined the party, a culture of nepotism has emerged,” he said. He said Qureshi had been facilitating his family members and former PPP workers who had joined the PTI. He said Qureshi had sidelined the senior cadre of the party in Multan. He said Qureshi had turned the PTI into a dynasty. “There is no one checking his activities,” he said.

He said Imran Khan should assess the appointments and nominations by Qureshi.

He said the PTI chairman should hold an inquiry in the stampede in Multan at a PTI rally.

Farooq Langah, another former office bearer of the PTI, said efforts of sincere workers were being ignored in city and district committees constituted by Qureshi.

“He has been destroying the party and victimising all workers of the PTI who had criticised him in the past,” he said. The workers said PTI Chairman Imran Khan had ignored complaints against Qureshi.

“Some one should hold Qureshi accountable,” he said. “There is no one here who can stand up to him.”

“Qureshi is not an angel but he is treated by Khan as one,” he said.

He said the vice chairman should be elected through a proper electoral process.

Workers said a PTI should enforce the recommendations of Justice (r) Wajeehuddin’s commission in all nominations.

The workers said they would march to Lahore if Khan did not take notice of their grievances. They also chanted slogans against Qureshi and his son. They were holding banners and placards, saying the PTI chairman should launch an inquiry against Qureshi.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2015.