ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will have an emergency meeting of its district, provincial and central leaders today (Tuesday), primarily regarding the induction of ex-governor of Punjab, Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, into its fold and notify him as the PTI’s central president.
Other important matters to be deliberated upon include the upcoming Senate election, the decision on how to go about the standoff with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and future line of action to press for the formation of a judicial commission to probe the 2013 elections.
The party sources told The News that Imran had summoned the emergency meeting after he met with the former governor on Sunday. Sarwar is speculated to formally join the PTI on Tuesday afternoon and get appointed as PTI’s central president straight away.
However, it is to be seen during the meeting at a local hotel, whether or not the party upholds the Constitution or goes out of the way to make Sarwar the PTI president.As per the Constitution of the party, first of all, the incomplete National Council and the Central Executive Committee are to be completed and after that a chief election commissioner is to be named for accepting applications to run for the slot of central president.
Now, if the Tuesday’s forum is to go by the PTI’s Constitution, it should first complete its two key forums prior to taking up how to adjust Sarwar in the party’s fold.“We shall surely welcome the former governor in the party, as he is a man of principles. But whether or not he qualifies for the key post of the president, the Constitution holds the key and shows the way,” sources maintained.
Recently, majority of the PTI’s Central Executive Committee had an extraordinary session, in which a resolution was unanimously passed by 37 members to push for running the party as per the Constitution and not on the whims of a core committee.
How will those members of the CEC react
in the meeting is to be seen. Will they silently accept Sarwar as their president or try to convince the forum to adopt the laid down procedure first?The resolution was well-received by the PTI leadership and Imran had assured to go by the Constitution. To what extent that assurance is adhered to will become obvious during the emergency meeting slated for February 10.