PTI ousts QWP from KP govt for not supporting Panama case

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister Shah Farman said on Saturday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to part ways with the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) for not siding with them on the Panama Papers issue.

Shah Farman told a media conference here at the KP House that the decision to end coalition with Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao’s party was taken after mutual consultations. He pointed out that on many other issues, there had been a change in their thinking as well.

The minister said that the party workers and people of the province were also confused over the attitude of the QWP. “We cannot go along with the QWP only for power. We have decided to part ways with them on the basis of principles,” he maintained.

Shah Farman noted that there were legal and constitutional ways to end coalition with the QWP. He said the PTI government had passed the accountability law and provided access to information through legislation. He added that the Provincial Ehtesab Commission had been formed for indiscriminate accountability. The minister brushed aside reports of division in the ranks of PTI in the province. 

Another provincial minister Ali Amin Gandapur said the PTI chairman Imran Khan had decided to constitute an accountability committee to hold the party leaders, workers and office-bearers accountable. He said a formal announcement to this effect would be made by Imran Khan soon.

The minister said the PTI chairman was determined to purge the province of corruption and that there would be no compromise on the party’s manifesto. 

Meanwhile, PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry reacted to the PML-N parliamentary party meeting and alleged that by chairing the meeting, a bid was made to disregard the Supreme Court judgement.

He charged that it was shameful that in Nawaz Sharif’s presence, chants of shame, shame were made during the meeting. Referring to an ad, he said that after having been tainted by the apex court, now statements were being issued that stains were good, ‘daagh to achay hotay hen’.

Fawad said that against one crime, Nawaz was disqualified and then a long list of references and cases against him was referred to NAB and other institutions. He claimed the sources of income presented to the apex court by Nawaz Sharif were trashed and thrown into the dustbin.   “It appears, the Sharif family found it extremely difficult to comprehend the apex court judgement, written in English,” he said.

The PTI leader said that the name of Shahbaz Sharif was at the top of those involved in Hudaibya Papers Mills scandal. He added that Justice Baqir report on Model Town tragedy was also awaiting him.