With the growing number of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf exodus, and senior leadership saying goodbye to the party, many questions are being raised about the future of one of Pakistan’s political “Big B.”
Last week was full of shocks for Insafians’ Chairman and surely for most of PTI’s supporters when PTI brand names like Fawad Chaudhry, Firdous Aashiq Awan, Amir Kiyani, Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain, Shireen Mazari, Fazal-ul-Hassan Chohan, Maleeka Bokahri, Musarrat Jamshaid Cheema, Jamshaid Cheema and many other promptly announced their departure from the party.
The quitting wave came following a crackdown on PTI politicians after the violent riots of May 9 which did severe harm to the memorials of Martyrs and must be condemned at all costs. However, the growing number of PTI defectors seems concerning but a round of applauding for PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s nerves of steel, who is still fully confident that anyone he will bless with a party ticket will win elections denying the fact that these MNAs and MPAs are the vote banks of their areas. PTI Chief is also coming out with a narrative that the continuing government and establishment crackdown is the reason for the exodus calling it “Forced Divorces.”
PTI chief tweeted, “We had all heard about forced marriages in Pakistan but for PTI a new phenomenon has emerged forced divorces.”
Numerous conspiracy theories exist regarding the present situation
Some claim that individuals, who used to refer to them as insafians, are leaving because of the guilt they feel after events at numerous memorial sites, such as the corps commander’s house, which was ultimately set on fire, got out of hand.
However, Political analyst Benazir Shah while talking to Aljeezera said “While certain lawmakers who abandoned the PTI ship were infamous for their toxic brand of politics,” the general populace should decide whether or not they should continue in politics.
“Voters should be given the option and the right to remove such politicians from the political scene. However, it appears that the ruling class is currently making that choice for them by selecting which political parties can and cannot run in elections,” a female analyst said.
But the thing is those who were involved in fueling riots must be tired under the law, no matter which party they belong to, and those who weren’t involved must not be politically victimized and forced to leave parties.
Breaking a party without proper investigation would do nothing but it will harm the so-called democratic norms. Seeing the PTI leader’s status on the May 9 incident will also help in determining the pro or anti-state status of each leader.
This is in some ways the first event of its nature (in terms of vandalizing military installations) however, a similar case happened in 1997 when Supreme Court of Pakistan was attacked when an unruly mob in 1997 attacked apex court of Pakistan as a result of a contempt of court case against then prime minister Nawaz Sharif which made court to adjourn the case. A riotous crowd of several thousand people rushed the courthouse prompting the then CJP Sajjad Ali Shah to seek army security for the Supreme Court. Sharif was at risk of losing his position in government if proven guilty. Protesters made their way past riot police officers in full gear and yelled abuse at Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, who was embroiled in a heated power struggle with Sharif. Shah requested that the troops be stationed outside the Supreme Court building in a letter that was handed to President Farooq Leghari. Shah charged Sharif with organizing the assault on the courthouse, organizing buses to transport protesters to Islamabad, and ensuring that the police would not intervene. However, the National Assembly passed a resolution condemning the assault, but no crackdown was done on PML-N leaders.
So, the question arises, will Imran be able to save PTI? Or will he leave the party?
Nobody knows the answer. With Imran being confident in himself and everything we still can’t deny the fact that losing leaders means losing voters plus with the exit and resignation of senior leadership party infrastructure is also at stake.
Moreover, there are reports that another former critical leader of PTI Jahangir Tareen is active in Lahore in efforts to make a new party. PTI leaders, upset with the party, are also expected to join the new setup. Apart from those, many political families from Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Lodhran, and Multan are expected to join hands with Tareen.
No matter, how the situation prevails, the truth is that the political crisis is a test for Imran Khan which will show his political abilities. If PTI Chairman somehow survives the whole thing, he will always be remembered as a great politician.
Till now Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry, Senior Vice President Shireen Mazari, Former provincial minister Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, Former MPA Abdul Razzaq Khan Niazi, Former MPA Makhdoom Iftikhar-ul-Hassan Gillani, Former MPA Mian Jalil Ahmed Sharaqpuri, Former MNA Khawaja Qutb Farid Korija, Founding Member Amir Mahmood Kayani, Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain, Former federal minister Malik Amin Aslam, PTI West Punjab president Faizullah Kamoka, Pti’s former central deputy secretary general Islamabad Dr Muhammad Amjad, Former MPA Syed Saeed-ul-Hassan, Former MPA Saleem Akhtar Laabar, MNA Chaudhry Hussain Elahi, Former MNA Haider Ali, Ticket Holder (PP-247) Chaudhry Ehsanul Haq, Ticket Holder (PP-248) Dr. Muhammad Afzal, Former MPA Zaheerud Din Khan Ali Zai, Former MPA Aoun Dogar, Former MPA Abdul Hai Dasti, Former MPA Malik Mujtaba Niaz Gashkori, Former MPA Alamdar Hussain Qureshi, Former MPA Sajjad Hussain Chena, Former MPA Sardar Qaiser Abbas Khan Magsi, Former MPA Ashraf Rind, Former MPA Javed Ansari, Saad Muhammad Chishti and Irshad kaathia has parted ways with former premier Imran Khan. Moreover, from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Former provincial minister Dr. Hisham Inamullah Malik, Former KP government spokesman Ajmal Wazir, MNA Usman Tarakai, MNA Malik Jawad Hussain, Former KP minister Muhammad Iqbal Wazir, Former MPA Nadia Sher, District leader Malik Qayyum Hussam and from Sindh, MPA Bilal Ghaffar, MNA J Prakash, MPA Omar, PTI Sindh Vice President Mahmood Maulvi, PTI Karachi President Aftab Siddiqui, MPA Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, MPA Sanjay Gangwani, MPA Dr. Imran Shah, District President Khairpur Syed Ghulam Shah quit PTI.
