Senate tickets not discussed properly: PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Core Committee Monday decided to have better coordination inside the Parliament and outside as well to give tough time to the ruling coalition government.

Though, no statement was issued by the party’s Central Media Department, a source claimed that the committee mainly focused on how to more effectively deal with cases against the PTI founder chairman Imran Khan, a well-coordinated strategy inside and outside the Parliament, and putting a check on issuance of statements.

The forum believed that proper consultations have not been held in relation to award Senate tickets and name of Muhammad Mirza Afridi was presented as a case. The committee members expressed concern over his nomination, saying the stance he had adopted after May 9 events was quite detrimental to the party.

The source said it was decided to do a proper spade work for the proposed rally of the party possibly on March 23. Afterwards, peaceful agitation will be launched in respective constituencies of the elected members and provincial capitals.

The core committee condemned the check on meetings inside Adiala Jail with Imran Khan, being in negation to the Constitution and the law. “It was decided to fully pursue this matter at different forums,” the source noted.

Likewise, some members expressed annoyance on a volley of statements coming almost every day, concerning the party’s internal matters, like the decision to opt for the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) and ignoring Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM).

However, it was conceded that the decision to go for the SIC was not a correct decision, as the option of the MWM was more practicable.

The core committee asked certain senior leaders, including firebrand Sher Afzal Marwat, to desist from making statements on the media. Marwat, who has been assigned by PTI founder chairman to organise Islamabad rally, reportedly assured the committee not to make any ‘controversial statement’ in future.

Though, no final decision was made, the meeting also considered moving a requisition for the summoning of the National Assembly session in view of the government’s moves with the International Monetary Fund for more loans.

Meanwhile, the PTI has formally sought permission to hold rally in Islamabad on the night of March 23 and 24.

Party’s Islamabad chapter President Amir Masood Mughal submitted the request to the district magistrate.

He proposed three venues for the rally -- at D Chowk, F-9 Park or Parade Ground. He requested the district administration to allow public meeting at any of the three places.

“If it is not possible on March 23, permission should be given to hold the rally on March 30,” Amir Mughal wrote in the application. The PTI also plans to hold a long march and a sit-in after Eidul Fitr.

Separately, a party spokesperson said that the PTI fully endorsed the Amnesty International’s demand for immediate restoration of social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying that Pakistan had been made a laughing stock in the international community due to the unjustified blockage on social media and the chain of oppression against own citizens.

The PTI spokesperson said that the government’s unjustified closure of the Internet, especially social media websites, on daily basis in order to conceal facts regarding the mandate theft in the general elections provided opportunities to the world to ridicule Pakistan.

He said that the Constitution was virtually suspended during the past 23 months and basic constitutional rights were being openly trampled upon.