ISLAMABAD: Months-long infighting in the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa witnessed a drop scene on Friday. An estranged 13-member group of PTI’s provincial lawmakers met party chairman Imran Khan at his residence and reportedly got an assurance that he would try to allay their concerns.
In return, the group expressed its complete trust in the leadership and vowed to work within the party discipline.
“Party chairman Imran Khan not only patiently listened to our reservations, but also found them genuine and promised to take every possible measure for their timely redress,” Imtiaz Shahid, the group’s leader, told Dawn.
He said the reservations were mainly about the poor performance of the provincial ministries, notably in the health and education departments. “The entire world is focusing on our provincial government and party, but unfortunately so far our performance leaves a lot to be desired.”
When asked about reported allegations of corruption against some PTI ministers, Mr Shahid, who is Deputy Speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, sidestepped the question, saying many issues had come under discussion.
He insisted that the party was united under the leadership of Mr Khan and the differences were only regarding governance issues in the provincial government.
He denied that he and his colleagues had threatened to resign from the party as well as the assembly.
However, a senior party leader said some of the estranged members were not happy over the recent distribution of cabinet portfolios.
The PTI chairman told reporters before the meeting that he would listen to complaints of the lawmakers, but “would prefer dissolution of the KP Assembly and go for new elections instead of getting blackmailed”.
A press release said the meeting was held in a relaxed and friendly manner and the legislators made clear that they were not after any office and had no demands. They expressed concern about corruption and shortcomings in the functioning of the provincial government.
The chairman told them that the PTI had zero tolerance for corruption and if they had any proof they should immediately bring it to his notice so that he would act immediately. Their other concerns were also noted and they were reassured the issues would be examined and duly addressed.
The MPAs made it clear that they had only offered resignations to the chairman, which could be used in case they were wrong.
Imran Khan listened patiently to them and said he would hold monthly meetings with the provincial legislators.
He said the ministers’ performance would be evaluated after every three months and anyone not delivering would be replaced.
The chairman stressed that the party would not be blackmailed into compromising on its principles.
The meeting ended with the legislators emphasising their trust in the chairman and their commitment to PTI’s ideology.
CEC: Imran Khan also held a meeting with acting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice Nasirul Mulk in the afternoon.
Talking to reporters outside the CEC office, Mr Khan said his response to the PTI’s demand for thumb impression-based vote counting in four constituencies of the National Assembly and coming local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been quite positive.
The PTI chief said the provincial government was ready to hold the local government elections on April 30 on biometric basis through electronic voting machines. “I told the CEC if there is some issue of time constraint to conduct elections through the machines, it can be worked out, but the PTI is ready to have this as a pilot project in the province.”
Mr Khan criticised the Sindh and Punjab governments for dithering on local government elections.