Khan, Hashmi part ways

• Hashmi says PTI chief violated party decision not to move towards Parliament
• Khan denies Hashmi’s claim that he issued the call to move forward on a ‘signal’

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday parted ways with Javed Hashmi and rebuffed Hashmi’s claim that he (Khan) decided to march forward on a “signal” by another party. The PTI chief also expelled three members of his party who refused to resign from the National Assembly.

In his second public appearance on Sunday, Khan said that Hashmi suggested that the PTI chief decided to march on a “signal” but actually Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chairman Tahirul Qadri contacted the PTI leadership and asked them to join PAT’s march forward.

Khan said that Hashmi and Shah Mehmood Qureshi were sceptic about marching simultaneously with PAT, fearing a Model Town-like incident. But after reassurances from Qadri that his marchers would remain peaceful, PTI took the decision to march forward with PAT.

As endorsed by PTI Central Information Secretary Shireen Mazari’s press release, Khan said that the decision to go peacefully to PM House occurred in the following sequence:

PTI’s negotiating committee decided that PTI would not move forward towards PM House. The decision was conveyed to the chairman who endorsed it.

PTI Secretary General Jehangir Tareen and Additional Secretary General Saifullah conveyed the message to Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).

After PAT’s reassurance that their movement forward would be peaceful, Khan convened a meeting of PTI’s larger Core Committee which, with the exception of Hashmi, endorsed Khan’s view that PTI should peacefully move forward to PM House. The chairman went with the overwhelming majority, as is the democratic norm. The entire PTI leadership stands with the chairman and decisions made by him, the press release states.

‘KHAN TOOK SOMEONE’S DICTATION’:

Earlier, PTI President Hashmi said that the party decided not to move towards PM House but Khan violated the party’s decision.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Hashmi said that that party’s delegation held a meeting with the government on Saturday evening and was looking forward to hearing from the government.

He said that all party leaders agreed upon the idea to not make a move forward from where they were and informed the party chairman of the decision, who committed to the entire party that he would not make a call to move towards the Parliament house but after around 20 minutes, Khan “broke the pledge” and decided to go ahead.

“Khan had assured me that he will not move forward from Constitution Avenue, and it was the party’s unanimous decision and my personal suggestion to him as well on the grounds that our negotiation team is engaged in talks with the government,” he said.

“But later he told me that it is now necessary to move ahead,” Hashmi said.

Hashmi made a revelation that some people, along with Sheikh Rashid, came to meet Khan after which Khan changed his mind. He added that though he does not agree with the current system, he would not attempt to ruin the sanctity of Parliament. He appealed to political parties and the government to act responsibly and advised the PTI leadership not to put the people in harm’s way.

Hashmi condemned police attacks on media men, saying that the government should not punish the media for showing the truth.

SHEIKH RASHID REJECTS HASHMI’S CLAIMS:

Moreover, rejecting PTI President Javed Hashmi’s claims, Awami Muslim League Chairman Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that he was never involved in Khan’s decision to move the sit-in.

“I take oath that I did not advise Khan to shift the sit-in to PM House,” Rashid said, while adding that he was bound to follow Khan’s decision.

Talking to a private news channel, Rashid said that he was being dragged unduly in internal affairs of PTI.

“I meet Khan just for four to five hours,” Rashid said, adding that he was not even aware of the future plan of PTI.

Earlier, Rashid said that the use of state machinery against protesters was despicable and if the situation did not improve then the Army would have to intervene. He said that the PM gave a false statement on the floor of the NA, adding that the PM should quit after the statement by ISPR.