PTI takes another U-turn on PSL final

LAHORE

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leadership on Tuesday faced an embarrassing situation when one of its MPAs, without consulting the parliamentary head, submitted a resolution opposing Pakistan Super League Final in Lahore on March 5.

The resolution, submitted by PTI Minority MPA Shenila Ruth in the PA Secretariat, was withdrawn under instructions from party’s Secretary-General Jehangir Khan Tareen who had contacted Opposition leader Mian Mehmood-ul-Rasheed to withdraw it immediately to avoid any misconception regarding PTI’s stance on promotion of sports activities in Pakistan.

The PTI leadership had to take another U-turn on Tuesday when Shenila Ruth, the PTI MPA, without the consent of her parliamentary and Opposition leader, submitted the resolution which stated ‘while keeping in view the security risk, the House demands the federal government not to hold the Pakistan Super League Final in Lahore on March 5.’

The resolution submitted by Shenila Ruth gained rapid media attention which added to the trouble of senior leadership which has already been facing criticism over the ambiguity in its stance on the PSL Final in Lahore.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan himself has been in the news over his dual stance on the PSL Final in Lahore, as he had previously supported it and when the Punjab government announced holding it, he reportedly opposed it. Within few hours after the resolution was submitted, PTI Secretary-General Jehangir Khan Tareen contacted Opposition leader in PA Mian Mehmood-ul-Rasheed and inquired about the issue. The Opposition leader expressed his complete ignorance about the resolution submitted by one of the party MPAs and sources stated the legislator was also snubbed by the leadership for not consulting the party hierarchy over an issue which has already brought the PTI under criticism.   

Moreover, what brought more embarrassment to the PTI was the fact that the resolution demanded cancellation of the PSL Final in Lahore on 5th of March, but the PA session was scheduled later than this date (March 6), which clearly showed there was no use of submitting it and it was done purely to gain media attention. Besides, according to some of the party members, this move also exposed the lack of coordination among PTI parliamentarians.

The resolution was withdrawn later. This scribe tried to contact MPA Shenila Ruth but she wasn’t available for comment.

Talking to The News, the PTI secretary-general termed the resolution submitted by Shenila Ruth her ‘personal act’ which had nothing to do with the party line.

He said the PTI had never opposed sports activities and it had always tried to portray the best image of the country. He said the PTI believed the Punjab government had put the entire city of Lahore into a state of siege which wouldn’t create a good impact.