Washing dirty linen in public
The PTI has no greater enemy than itself. The party formed around the magnetic Imran Khan comprises people from different political backgrounds. It goes to Khan’s credit that he has activated and brought into the PTI fold thousands who had never before taken part in politics. With newcomers joining the party in droves during the last four years, they are looked at with suspicion and concern by the old timers who stood by Imran Khan through thick and thin. What has further complicated the matter is that the leadership preferred to remain in a state of permanent agitation giving little time to resolving the differences and creating a homogeneous party.
This explains why the first intra-party polls held in 2013 were mired in bitter controversy. The second party elections scheduled for the last week of April are already causing rifts within the leadership at all levels. Particularly at odds are the party’s old guard and the new breed of ‘electables’ who joined the party recently. Setting aside Imran Khan’s appeals to end infighting, the two sides have continued the activity. The combatants have also disregarded party Election Commissioner’s stern warning to those indulging in cliquish activities.
The recent war of the tweets caused by Jahangir Tareen’s statement on MQM dissident Mustafa Kamal’s arrival is the latest example of party leaders going public on differences over paltry matters. Besides being a PTI MNA Tareen also holds the office of party’s Secretary General. Ali Zaidi who launched the assault against Tareen is the president of the party’s Karachi chapter. Zaidi was supported by PTI MNA Ali Muhammad Khan. Party forums are the venue where political parties settle their differences. In the case of the PTI leaders the tendency is to wash the dirty linen in public. The free for all is bound to impair the party’s image and cause frustration among its activists. It is time Imran Khan paid attention to creating a sense of discipline in the party.