National News

LAHORE, (APP): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief
Imran Khan, even after postponing intra-party elections, could not
succeed in eliminating differences among top leaders of the party.
The PTI workers did witness communication gap between the top
leaders even on party’s foundation day as Ch Muhammad Sarwar’s group
people left for Islambad from Qaddafi Stadium while Shafqat Mahmood
along with his companions departed from Nasir Bagh.
Two groups emerged after the announcement of intra party
elections, Nazriyati Group (Shafqat Mahmood) which has the support
of old members of the PTI including Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood
Qureshi, Hamid Khan, Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Shireen Mezari, Saloni
Bukhari, Waleed Iqbal, Sadia Suhail Rana and Saifullah Khan Niazi,
whereas second group has former Governor Punjab, Ch Sarwar who has
the sympathies of Jahangir Tareen and Abdul Aleem Khan.
Meanwhile, another candidate Malik Ibrar Hussain also announced
to contest intra-party election for Punjab president’s seat though
MNA Shafqat Mahmood and Ch Muhammad Sarwar were already in the
field for the same slot.
Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s speech of workers convention
of PTI Nazaryati Group (Shafqat Mahmood Group) in Lahore, about two
weeks back, confirmed serious differences between the top leaders
of the party.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi criticised in harsh words Ch Muhammad Sarwar
who is contesting for PTI Punjab slot. He called Ch Sarwar and
Jahangir Tareen “Political novices” and alleged that both were
trying to “hijack” the party with power of money.
This is not the first time — as earlier Pakistan Tehreek-e-
Insaf Chairman Imran Khan suspended Justice (R) Wajihuddin Ahmed who
was the Chief Election Commissioner for Intra-party election and the
new CEC Tasneem Noorani also resigned from his position over
differences with the party chief.
However, denying differences in the party, Ch Muhammad Sarwar
told APP that Imran Khan has “resolved” all the issues between the leadership and the party was focussing on Lahore rally.
He stated he had no differences with Shafqat Mahmood or any
other party leader. “On the directions of the party Chief all of
us are struggling for democracy and fighting against corruption
in the country”.
However, admitting the differences between the two groups,
Advisor to Imran Khan Dr Yasmin Rashid while responding to a query
by this scribe, asserted that criticism is the hallmark of democracy,
and PTI is the only party in the country which has real democracy and
its going to conduct intra-party elections transparently.
“All the decisions are being made after consultations with all
the leaders”, she said.