Voice of dissent: PTI MNA flays CM Pervez Khattak

BATKHELA:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA Junaid Akbar has said Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and some of his supporters are destroying the party.

Speaking at a news conference in Batkhela on Sunday, he said PTI workers in Malakand plan to start a movement to dismiss Khatak from public office.

The MNA was accompanied by a large number of PTI workers, and district and tehsil councillors. “Khattak is only interested in being a chief minister and frequently brings his relatives into the limelight,” he added. “As the chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, he has no interest in prompting development and improving his party’s image. Khattak could jump ship and join another party to serve his own interests.”

According to Akbar, the chief minister has given preferential treatment to Muhammad Ali Shah, a Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentary leader in the assembly and MPA from Malakand, by issuing a royalty fund to him.

“There is no law that states the royalty fund should be provided to the MPAs only,” Akbar said. “And even if it were true, then why does Khattak prefer PPP MPA in Malakand over PTI MPA Shakil Khan?” Akbar said the chief minister has been supporting MPAs from other parties by providing them with funds and incentives. As a result, PTI’s position in Malakand has been weakened.

“Results for the local government elections in the district provides proof for this,” he said. “Khattak is responsible for PTI’s failure in LG elections in the Malakand district.”

The MNA alleged Khattak attempted to adopt a no-confidence movement against PTI chief Imran Khan during the Azadi march.

“Imran had said he would dissolve the K-P Assembly during PTI’s longest ever sit-in last year,” he said.  “Khattak was planning a conspiracy on the behest of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.” He criticised PTI MPAs in the assembly as well, asking them about their silence over the “CM’s illogical distribution of funds, jobs and other developmental projects.” He said, “We can’t be governed by a chief minister like that, and we will start a movement against him after Hajj.”

He said PTI workers will not vote for Jamaat-e-Islami candidates for PK-93 in the by-election as JI workers and ministers - including the K-P LG minister - ignored them. “Party workers in PK-93, Upper Dir will vote for PPP as revenge against the chief minister,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th,  2015.