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Thursday March 28, 2024

Imran’s anti-govt campaign plan faces challenges

By Fasihur Rehman Khan
July 25, 2016

ISLAMABAD: Internal discord and infighting on the heels of recent defeat in Azad Kashmir elections has set Imran Khan-led PTI in a tailspin, raising serious doubts about its ability to mount an effective anti-federal government campaign (on PanamaLeaks) in early August.

Feeling heat of the situation, Imran Khan and close aides have set an ambitious target to settle internal party differences and quell infighting before they kick-start a movement against the PML-N led government. 

Hectic close-door meetings were held in Bani Gala on Saturday and Sunday to put the party cadres in order, and come up with a strategy to highlight the achievements of its embattled KP government. For this, they are ready to roll a few heads to send in a strong signal to all concerned.

Party insiders, however, fear that the PTI is not ready for such an ambitious campaign against the PML-N government when its own house is not in order. And that too in a political scenario where the opposition ranks, especially the PPP, is not ready for a street agitation against the federal government owing to its own political compulsions.

With one of its hands tied in Sindh as it runs a fractured provincial government with so little to its credit, the PPP is not ready to cross the red lines against the PML-N federal government. And many opposition parties, including ANP and MQM, are not comfortable in furthering the PTI’s agenda. 

Even Jamaat-e-Islami, PTI’s KP coalition partner, is not ready to fully commit itself in such an agitation fearing Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri might jump in soon to stage yet another Dharna, in an apparent effort to help out the PTI but with the blessings of some forces wanting to meet their own ends. 

Even Aftab Sherpao’s Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), another PTI collation partner in KP government, is not convinced about its ambitious agitation plans. The QWP sources say it is not at all satisfied with the working and handling of provincial affairs by CM Pervaiz Khattak. A seasoned politician like Sherpao is however silent and waiting for the right time to speak up openly.

Recently, Sherpao expressed his dissent in a meeting of the opposition parties in Islamabad against moves by some political elements to hijack the Panama Paper TORs related developments. As the situation stands today, the PTI folds find themselves engulfed in a tricky situation as the central leadership has to defend poor performance of party’s KP government, instead provincial government performing at its best giving it enough room to further political goals, especially in the Punjab.

Party Secretary General Jahangir Khan Tareen (KJT) has been tasked by Imran on Sunday with resolving differences between the KP chief minister and national and provincial legislators within a week.

But the rebels have forewarned of starting a movement against Pervaiz Khattak if their grievances are not addressed amicably. But, some party heavyweights close to Imran have lately advised him to put his foot down to send in a strong message to the party cadres and dissenting legislators. 

The PTI chief did this in a strange fashion — largely seen as a dictatorial tendency in political leaders, he had himself resented time and again in the recent past. “If you people continue with infighting, then who will fight with these people (established political forces) who are entrenched sitting in successive governments for the last 30 years”. “Therefore, I am giving you a polite warning, not to public your differences. There will be a disciplinary committee. We will take input from all, and once the party makes a decision, everyone will have to accept. Then whosoever differs, they have got three choices: a) join another party, b) make your own party or wait till the outcome of the movement (against federal government). 

The political situation will be crystal clear soon. And if the elections are held in 2018, we will hold intra-party elections,” Imran told a national convention of party in Islamabad recently.   The message didn’t go down well with all the party rank and file as many thought of it as a scheme orchestrated by party’s elite group to have a firm grip on the state of affairs as the party constitution is still in abeyance and Imran plans to fill all the provincial slots through nominations. 

The PTI chief has already filled nominated key central posts of vice chairman and secretary general as well as secretary information through mere nominations.   “You are not my Pir (religious figure). You are my leader. And as you (Imran) have said multiple times that you present yourself for accountability, I want to ask you some questions,” a party worker shouted during the recent convention held at a five star Islamabad hotel. But he was made to sit by workers as Imran Khan insisted he was in the middle of his speech, and should not be interrupted.

But as the PTI chief overly asserts himself, he finds dissent propping up at a fast pace. On Sunday, an email sent by Yasir Fiaz, coordinator of PTI’s Policy council, was taking rounds in media and party circles.

For many, it was an indictment of party Secretary General Jahangir Tareen’s handling of the Azad Kashmir elections. But instead of addressing the concerns, insiders feared disciplinary actions in the offing.

“A biased (elections ticket award) board was set up where Barrister Sultan and Sir Jahangir (Tareen) was calling the shots and selection of candidates was done on personal preference rather than potential assessment and ability to win”. 

“Jahangir Tareen PTI group was making all decisions beside Barrister Sultan who didn’t even had the potential to analyze the candidate’s potential,” the email said.

“Jahangir Tareen surrendered completely against an electable name Barrister Sultan in safeguarding PTI workers’ rights for tickets forgetting the key point that with dedicated workers and team one can win an election. You (Tareen) didn’t become the voice of dedicated workers.”

“Sir Jahangir, only because of you, we lost Rawalpindi/Islamabad most secure seat among all. We had an active volunteer group of 700 workers in Islamabad, and winning this seat was a piece of cake for us. But you surrendered against a corrupt elite (Barrister Sultan) who was not able to win his own seat,” it said.

“If you have an inch of doubt that without dedicated worker support and relying on by spending billions of rupees you can win in general elections 2018, here is another eye opener. Lets have a match or any challenge to prove it. You think, you will hire people, but PTI volunteer team will not rest until we succeed. Money is finite, but passion is limitless. We can beat your whole team in intra party elections, but always stayed neutral. We surely can beat you individually. Will you take the full responsibility for the worst defeat (in AJK elections ) now?” the email said.

But party’s AJK chief Barrister Sultan is adamant, and complaining about “engineered rigging” even when Imran had accepted the election results immediately. And party’s Secretary Information Naeem-ul-Haq had the guts to come up with false AJK vote count through a tweet. He claimed PML-N secured 6,89,000; PTI 383000; and PPP got 353000 votes.

The actual vote count by AJK Elections Commissions (official figures) however reveal that PML-N had secured  7,39,185 votes, while PPP secured 3,52,682 and PTI stood at third position with 2,10,827 votes.

Maryam Nawaz, the elder daughter of Prime Minister, was however quick to mock and re-tweet the seemingly deliberate miscalculation by PTI leaders on Sunday.