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The frustrations of the UK chapter of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) came out at the recent events organised by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf held in London and Manchester. Both ceremonies were held to honour Zulfiqar Ali alias Zulfi Bukhari, a former adviser to Prime Minister Imran Khan. 

Romi Malik and his allies were the main organisers of these ceremonies. 

Zulfi Bukhari arrived to a warm welcome in the London ceremony. In response to a media question, he said that Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit the UK this summer. Sources in the Foreign Ministry have not confirmed this so far. 

During the ceremony, some of the key PTI officials came under severe criticism for what was called a “disappointing performance” by the government and the party. 

While addressing the gathering, Barrister Mian Waheed-ur-Rehman, the president of PTI Greater London, said, “85 percent of the people at the gathering are non-PTI members”. He added that these were actually the individuals to be held accountable. 

“Today, they were within our party ranks. We had promised to give justice to the people and catch the thieves. We have not been able to do that,” he added. He claimed that public frustration was growing not just in Pakistan but also among overseas Pakistanis. 

“When floods hit Pakistan, the prime minister approaches the overseas Pakistanis. Whenever there are difficulties at home, the overseas Pakistanis are asked to help, only to be ignored later,” said Rahman. 

“Every year, we send millions of pounds in remittances. As a‘reward’ our mobile phones are heavily taxed in Pakistan,” he added. He proposed that overseas Pakistani should be given representation in the advisory boards of government institutions. 

Internal rifts became more obvious during the ceremony as another PTI leader, Sahibzada Jahangir Khan, the advisor to the prime minister on overseas Pakistanis and investment, accused Barrister Waheed-ur-Rehman and PTI North leader Aslam Bhutta and of buying thousands of votes during elections to the PTI offices. 

“You have to fix your electoral system and abolish the PTI membership fee”, said Sahibzada Jahangir. 

Zulfi Bukhari was also the highlight at a similar event held in Manchester. 

Rana Abdul Sattar, president of the PTI UK, also spoke out against some of the policies of the party and the government of Pakistan. He told the gathering that PTI leaders from UK and overseas had no respect in Pakistan and the PTI leadership in Pakistan didn’t care for them. Rana Abdul Sattar that only those with money and contacts had reach and influence in Pakistan and not the ordinary, genuine workers who were ignored for key roles in the PTI administration in Punjab, KP and at the centre. 

At the end of the event, Zulfi Bukhari answered the audience’s questions and addressed the gathering. He announced that he would renounce his dual citizenship in the next six months. He said he will then contest the general election from Attock. 

“There were some advisers around the prime minister who gave him false reports. They should be held accountable”, said Bukhari. He stressed the need for a comprehensive dialogue on the subject of dual citizenship. He said now that the overseas Pakistanis have the right to vote, they should register as voters. 

Zulfi Bukhari was also the highlight at a similar event held in Manchester. 

PTI UK leader and former general secretary, Naeem Ulfat says that the outbursts at these events held a message for Prime Minister Imran Khan that not everything was right in the overseas chapters of the party as workers were no more ready to buy the old slogans. He said the PTI had failed to live up to the expectations of the people. 

Naeem Ulfat said: “His removal as adviser was a bad decision. He will regain power through popular public support.” 

He said there was widespread disappointment within the party in Britain. “The performance of the government has disheartened people in Pakistan,” he claims. Naeem Ulfat said that before coming to power, the PTI had given a manifesto to the people which now stands in contrast to its actions. It is becoming harder by the day to fulfil it. He said that the attitude of some PTI leaders was unbecoming their status. 

“As far as we can see nothing has been recovered from the politicians who are being called thieves,” says Naeem Ulfat. 

“These ‘parachuters’ should be expelled from the party and the government. Professionals should be appointed in the national institutions,” he added.

The writer is a correspondent for Geo News, daily Jang and

The News in London