PTI Sindh chapter falls victim to internal differences

–Joint opp in Sindh Assembly nominates PTI’s Firdous Shamim as opposition leader, snubbing earlier candidate Haleem Adil Sheikh

KARACHI: With the deepening of internal differences within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh chapter, the party leadership has taken a U-turn on the name of the opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly, replacing the earlier candidate Haleem Adil Sheikh, it has emerged.

According to details, MPA Firdous Shamim Naqvi has been nominated as the opposition leader in the provincial assembly replacing PTI’s earlier announced candidate for the slot, Haleem Adil Sheikh.

After July 25 elections, the PTI leadership has announced on August 12 that its Sheikh would be the Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly.

With the announcement of his name, Sheikh had within hours of the announcement won the support of other opposition parties, including Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA).

   Signatures of all those in support of PTI’s Shamim

“I am grateful to the leadership of MQM-P and GDA, who came up with supportive and positive reactions. I have already met Pir Pagara and other leaders of GDA. This alliance would be for the betterment of Sindh and democracy,” the PTI leader had said.

However, according to sources, the local leadership was angry at the announcement and started lobbying to change the name after which MPA Firdous Shamim Naqvi emerged as the most powerful leader of the PTI in the city.

Naqvi on Wednesday visited the office of Sindh Assembly Secretary G M Farooq and submitted his nomination as Leader of the Opposition containing signatures of all the opposition members.

A PTI spokesman told Pakistan Today that Naqvi has the support of all the opposition parties, therefore, he would be the opposition leader of the Sindh Assembly.

Pakistan Today tried to contact Sheikh for his point of view over the change of opposition leader’s name, however, his cell phone remained unattended till the filing of this report.