Monday, September 1, 2014

Pakistan: Imran knew 2014 poll plan for a year

Waseem Abbasi
After shocking revelations of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) President Javaid Hashmi, more voices are emerging from the party to indicate that PTI chairman Imran Khan was following a well scripted plan, chalked out as early as last year to oust Nawaz Sharif’s government.
Party insiders told The News that the plan was partially conveyed to a parliamentary party meeting held at Imran Khan’s residence at Bani Gala three months after May 11, 2013 elections. “The meeting of PTI parliamentarians were told by the Chairman (Imran Khan) to prepare for the elections in 2014 as the Nawaz government will not last more than a year,” said the party MNA from Karak, Nasir Khan Khattak.
Referring to the meeting held soon after the UK visit of the PTI Chairman after 2013 polls, Khattak said the party MNAs were directed to go to their constituencies as next elections will be held in 2014. “We did not take this advice very seriously at that time but current developments have proven that everything was scripted,” he said.
He endorsed the claims of PTI President Javaid Hashmi that PTI chairman was following some “external” directions.Khattak is one of the party MNAs who are facing expulsion from PTI for refusing to resign from the National Assembly.
He went on to say that by calling for mutiny and attacking the state symbol, PTI Chairman has lost the right to lead the party so he must step down and face the legal action under Article 6 of the Constitution.
“The attack on the parliament and the Prime Minister House by the PTI Chairman is a declaration of war against the state,” he said adding that majority of PTI leaders are against the current dictatorial policies of Mr Khan. The PTI MNA said he will contact Javaid Hashmi and other party leaders to chalk out the future strategy for the party.
He claimed that there are 21 MNAs who are unwilling to resign from the Assembly as the decision was taken by the unconstitutional core committee of the party without consulting the parliamentarians.
While addressing the protesters on Sunday, PTI chairman announced to expel three dissident MNAs for not complying with his orders.However the party constitution does not have any provision to expel any member through public announcement.
Khattak who was elected from NA-15 Karak of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said decision of resignation from National Assembly was discriminatory as PTI government in KP is still functional and only the MNAs are asked to quit the parliament.
Nasir Khan Khattak said that there was no democracy in the party as it was hijacked by two powerful persons namely Jehangir Tareen and Shah Mehmood Qureshi who were making all the key decisions without consulting others. He said that the PTI resignations in current situation would only pave the way for martial law in the country.

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