Intra-PTI rift emerges in KP

PESHAWAR: The differences in the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have emerged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a group of present and former members of national and provincial assemblies have become active against Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur after voicing reservations. The party sources told Geo News that the group comprising the PTI estranged leaders believed that the governance in KP was not going well. It accused the chief minister of interfering in the government departments and alleged that corrupt practices were in vogue as well. The sources said the chief minister was not accessible when the party tickets were being awarded to the candidates to contest the February 8 general election, this year.

They said Muhammad Atif Khan, was angry with Ali Amin Gandapur after he was not awarded party ticket for provincial assembly seat and got removed from CM race. Atif made a statement against the PTI leadership for ignoring him.

The sources said that KP Minister for Communication and Works Shakeel Ahmad had complained to the PTI founder Imran Khan about the poor governance in the province when he had met him recently in the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. He also addressed a press conference where he had complained of a parallel government in KP,” said a PTI member. When approached, MNA Atif Khan told Geo News he had nothing to do with the KP government affairs. “Imran Khan constituted a committee when he received complaints about governance. He did this after meeting KP Minister Shakeel Ahmad,” explained the PTI leader from the Mardan Region. Adviser to CM Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, dispelled the impression of any grouping.