Those who call themselves loyalists of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have started weighing options to join other parties to carry on their political journey, Pakistan Today learnt on Monday.
In Sindh, the PTI has been divided into two groups after undemocratic decisions of influential new comers, who allegedly occupied central and provincial leaderships within the party.
The ancestors, who call themselves loyalists of Imran Khan and PTI, have started approaching other political parties after one-sided, unjustified and undemocratic decisions by Imran.
Interestingly, these were the companions of Imran who led the foundation of the PTI some 17 years back, but they got fed-up with the party leadership over the removal of some old PTI colleagues to appease new comers.
On the other hand, common workers have also returned to other political parties from where they once started their political career.
The only reason behind the disintegration of the PTI in Sindh is undemocratic decision of the central and provincial leadership to appease new comers, party insiders said.
Many day-one companions of Imran were either removed from PTI ranks or left the party due to the stronghold of the new comers, who the affected PTI workers call “opportunists”.
Dr Hassan Raza was the PTI Sindh general secretary and was removed from his post for violating party rules and policies.
Dr Raza was sidelined from his offices for issuing statements in the press. Interestingly, Dr Arif Alvi also violated policy and issued anti-Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz statements in the press, but he escaped all party actions.
Dr Raza narrated his story as under: “Dr Arif Alvi, PTI secretary general, has issued a statement in a television talk show that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif were responsible for firing on ‘Sindh Mohabbat Rally’ and killing of over dozen people in Karachi. At that very time, I was sitting in another TV channel show and when the anchorperson asked me if I agreed with Alvi’s claims, I said ‘no’.”
“After a few days, I have been informed that I was removed from the post of PTI Sindh general secretary. I haven’t received any show cause notice from the PTI leadership, but Dr Alvi told me that I was removed from the party over violation of policy. After a few days, I was informed by one of my companions in the PTI that my basic membership had also been cancelled. I neither got any show cause notice for removal from the post nor did I receive any letter of cancellation of my basic membership.”
“Imran Khan claims that PTI is a democratic party but I was removed from my office undemocratically. We served day and night for preparation of the PTI constitution but the new comers do not feel any hesitation in violating party rules.”
“Per the PTI constitution, if any party worker violates rules and regulation, he/she is served a show cause notice and if the respondent fails to clarify his position then he/she could be removed from his office. Then he/she is issued with a notice to elucidate to save his basic membership and he/she again fail to justify his position, then his membership could be cancelled. I gave precious 17 years to the PTI and have now joined Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) to carry on my political journey. My suspension from office and basic membership is unjustified and if PTI chief Imran Khan fails to provide me justice, how he can provide justice to 180 million people of Pakistan,” he questioned. Another affected PTI leader, ex-Joint Secretary PTI Karachi Division Kamran Minhas told Pakistan Today that he was removed from office for holding a press conference over Lyari operation.
“I was the Joint Secretary of PTI Karachi Division and I was removed from my office for raising voice against silence of PTI over Lyari issue. I belong to Lyari and during operation in the town, I called central leadership to raise voice against suspension of power, gas and water as PTI has its vote bank in the troubled town, but the central leadership failed to respond. Then the provincial leadership has decided to hold press conference against Lyari operation and in that press briefing we demanded of the government to stop operation in Lyari. PTI Sectary General in interview to a TV channel claimed that PML-N is behind causalities during Sindh Mohabbat Rally of Awami Tehreek.”