Party postpones intra-party polls, prepares for mass mobilisation against Panamagate
Dr Shireen Mazari expresses concern over govt efforts to pressure free media
In what appears to be a well-conceived move, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to postpone the intra-party elections sine die in order to prepare masses for a nationwide movement against corruption, tax evasion and money laundering.
This decision was taken on Friday in a party meeting chaired by PTI Chairman Imran Khan which was attended by party’s Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Central Secretary Information Naeemul Haq, Spokesperson to Chairman Dr Shireen Mazari, PTI Punjab President Chaudhry Sarwar and MNA Asad Umer along others.
Sources privy to the development said that during the meeting Shah Mehmood Qureshi briefed Imran Khan on the proceedings of the parliamentary committee formed to formulate the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for a probe into Panama Leaks, but the latter did not appear satisfied with its progress.
Imran Khan categorically stated the PTI would not retreat from its stance of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s accountability come what may, added the sources.
Qureshi told the meeting that he had made it clear that the opposition would not budge an inch from its principled position regarding probe over the Panama Leaks and the same was conveyed to the government clearly.
Later, a statement released by PTI Central Media Department said that “the party meeting decided that at this critical juncture in the nation’s history, with the growing crisis over the Panama Papers, the party has to prepare mass mobilisation for a nationwide movement against corruption, tax evasion and money laundering. Therefore, the leadership has decided to postpone the intra-party elections indefinitely. However, the party remains committed to intra party elections”.
Dr Shireen Mazari, in the statement, said that the leadership also expressed serious concern over the government’s efforts to pressure the independent media, especially electronic media.
“The government is using the PEMRA through its head, Absar Alam, whose appointment itself is controversial given his activism for the PML-N, to harass those TV networks that fail to toe the government line,” she regretted.
Mazari said the PTI leadership felt it was simply unacceptable that the government was using public funds in efforts to stop TV channels from conducting investigations into corruption and exposing those guilty, while giving disproportionate funds to those channels that fall in line with the government’s propaganda.
“The independent media has fought for its freedom and independence. The PTI stands behind it and will not allow the government to use the PEMRA and its chief for its nefarious ends,” she added.
PTI spokesperson Naeemul Haq meanwhile said “the party has decided to keep on pressuring the government for which party workers across the four provinces have been asked to get themselves prepared for a nation-wide protest”.
He said the party decided to give tough time to the government over the issue of Panamagate, adding that in this regard the next few weeks were of great importance, since the government seemed in no mood to give answer to the 15 questions posed by the opposition.
