PTI holds its constitution in abeyance

All powers delegated to Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is perhaps the only party, at least in recent years, that has held its constitution in abeyance and its election commission also issued a notification to this effect only to be withdrawn partially within 24 hours on June 28.

“The party’s constitution is held in abeyance and all powers or any kind of decision now rests with the party Chairman Imran Khan,” said a notification issued by PTI Acting Chief Election Commissioner Azhar Tariq on June 27.

This unexpected way of describing the situation prevailing in the party led to a lot of hue and cry within its ranks and file. A stream of emails were circulated and exchanged among PTI members, forcing the party and subsequently Azhar Tariq to clarify the notification.

There have been reports of resentment from within the party over the recent string of appointments made by the PTI chairman, including that of Shah Mehmood Qureshi as vice-chairman and Jehangir Tareen as the party’s secretary general. Loudest voices have been raised from the PTI’s Punjab chapter.

Now the notification that withdrew the phrase on holding of the PTI constitution in abeyance and it says that since all the party bodies stand dissolve and the intra-party election postponed, all constitutional powers now rest with the party chairman to take decisions and make appointments.

However, there is no word from the party for how long this situation will persist as Imran has announced to launch afresh a movement against the menace of corruption with particular reference to the revelations made in the Panama Papers about the offshore companies, owned by the sons and daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Meanwhile, PTI’s Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi Wednesday alleged the ex-members of the Election Commission failed to ensure sanctity of vote in 2013 general election. In a statement issued here, he expressed concern over payment of salaries, other benefits to the former members of the electoral body and even increases without the approval of Parliament. He condemned this practice.

Qureshi said the bowed out ECP members were bound to pay back whatever illegal payments had been paid to them during their stint of five years.

He pointed out that any increase in their salaries was conditional to the approval of the Parliament but this was never done. He alleged the ruling PML-N not only gave birth to bribes but promoted it.

The party Chairman Imran Khan, Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Secretary General Jehangir Tareen and other party leaders have strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Turkey.