Islamabad / Rawalpindi:
In a gambit calculated to maintain the resolution in the midst of political misfortunes, Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) decided on Tuesday to boycott the next partial elections across the country and to withdraw from all the permanent committees of Parliament-a decision of party executives as a stand against a political field to a political plan.
The twin decisions occurred after numerous deliberations at a meeting of the PTI political committee, which unanimously approved the boycott and resolved that the legislators of the party in the National Assembly would resign from their memberships in accordance with the instructions of the founding president of the Imran Khan Party.
According to party sources, the meeting was summoned to trace PTI’s electoral strategy following recent disqualifications which created vacant positions for the national and provincial courses of the Assembly. The members were explicitly invited to give their opinion on the question of whether the party should challenge the elections.
The initiates revealed that most of the members had advised to participate, citing the dominant political climate and compromised the conditions for a fair competition.
The boycott proposal was approved unanimously, with senior leaders, notably Sanaullah Masti Khel, Barrister Gohar, Sheikh Waqas Akram and Amir Dogar, strongly supporting the move, calling it in accordance with the management of the founding president of PTI of PTI.
The decision follows the days of internal debate reported on the question of whether the party should enter the fray to protect its political lawn, in particular at Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where imminent disqualifications could undermine its number.
Until recently, many within PTI plan to challenge the partial elections a necessary measure, despite the reserves on transparency and equity.
However, the founder of the incarcerated party had repeatedly pointed out that PTI should avoid legitimizing the “defective process”. He had previously ordered the political committee to revisit the question and collect detailed comments from the members. After consultations, the committee concluded that PTI will remain away from the next ballot boxes.
On Tuesday, PTI leaders said that the boycott reflected the party’s position in principle against a compromised electoral process and the growing state pressure. They argued that participation in the “lacking transparency” elections would be contrary to PTI’s position on electoral integrity.
Resignations flow in
Shortly after, the decision landed, in a parallel development, Faisal Amin Khan, the brother of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, resigned from three parliamentary committees on the instructions of the founder of PTI.
Faisal Amin has left the permanent committees on economic affairs, food security and the parliamentary working group, and submitted its resignation to Whip Amir Dogar.
“I resigned on the instructions of the founder of the PTI,” confirmed Faisal Amin.
Party sources have declared that more resignations of permanent committees are expected in the coming days, in accordance with the founder’s directive and the decision of the political committee.
‘I will not bow, I will not treat’
Meanwhile, addressing the media earlier in the day after a meeting with her brother, Aleema Khan announced that Imran had maintained his determination, affirming that isolation and intimidation would not break his resolution.
He reiterated his determination according to which he “will not bow or conclude any agreement”.
Aleema Khan said that she and her sisters were grateful to the PTI workers who had supported them for months.
“In the past three months, we have been refused a meeting. Today, by the grace of Allah, we finally met him. After four months, all the sisters were allowed to come together. His lawyers, including Salman Akram Raja, Barrister Gohar and Ali Zafar, also had access,” she said.
She confirmed that the founder of the PTI was in good health overall, but noted that he had developed an eye problem. “We move the court for her treatment,” she said, adding that doctors at Pims hospital would soon examine him.
“Judicial responsible for injustices”
The former Prime Minister held the judiciary responsible for injustices in force in the country, claiming that “if the judges had a conscience, such an injustice would never have been authorized”.
The citer, his sister Aleema Khan said that Imran said that “the total responsibility for these injustices lies in the judiciary”. He was also informed of the arrests of his nephews, Shershah Khan and Shahrez Khan, on which he expressed his concern.
Speaking of legal affairs against him, Imran pointed out that punishment and disqualifications of this kind had never been observed in Pakistan. He also allegedly alleged that the consumer media had lost credibility because his voice was deleted and controlled.
He also opposed new military operations in Waziristan, warning that a military operation would only create instability.
He also criticized the forced expulsion of Afghan refugees from Pakistan. “The conduct of Afghans is against Islamic traditions. I am ashamed of their forced return.”
The founder of the PTI expressed his sorrow on the devastation caused by the floods in Buner and in other areas, adding that the public should now recognize the value of the Billion Tree project initiated during his mandate.
Regarding the political strategy, Imran asked his party to resign from all parliamentary committees. He also ordered the lawyer Gohar Khan and Salman Akram Raja concerning the party position in the next by -elections.
“The party should not participate in the by-elections,” he said. “Participation would give legitimacy to an already compromised process.”
Aleema Khan told journalists that Imran had rejected the resignation of Salman Akram Raja from his party post.
“He instructed the political committee to meet today. The founder will make a final decision after consulting the party. His clear position is that the by-elections should not be legitimized, although it is open to examining the different opinions within the party,” she added.
She also said that Bushra Bibi was in good health and that the judicial atmosphere during her appearance today had been “positive”.
In addition, the lawyer for the PTI Salman Akram Raja also confirmed that Imran had not accepted his resignation.
“Khan Sahib did not accept my resignation,” he said by addressing journalists after meeting Khan in Adiala prison.
Raja added that the political committee would meet again in the evening to deliberate on the elections.
“The head of the opposition Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz are already fighting their business in court. For the National Assembly, the name of Mahmood Khan Achakzai was reiterated by Khan Sahib. In accordance with his instructions, the political committee will make a final decision on the elections.”
