ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf continued with its struggle to enforce discipline within its ranks. On Sunday, a high-powered committee headed by the party’s chief organiser Shah Mehmood Qureshi recommended strong disciplinary action against its members of the Senate, National Assembly from Khyber Pakhtun­khwa and the provincial assembly.

On its recommendation, action has been taken against four members of the KP Assembly and one each of the National Assembly and Senate. One of the four MPAs has been expelled for working against the party’s interest during local government elections in KP held in May this year.

A press release issued by the PTI’s main secretariat said the disciplinary committee set up by Chairman Imran Khan to look into the conduct of certain senior members of the party during the LG elections in KP had “reached its conclusion after meeting the people involved.”

Other members of the committee are chief party organiser in KP Fazal Khan, additional central organiser Saifullah Niazi and information secretary Naeemul Haq.

Amjad Afridi, an MPA from Kohat, has been expelled from the party for his conduct which led to the defeat of a PTI candidate in the district. MNA Shehryar Afridi and MPA Ziaullah Bangash from the same district “have acted irresponsibly and, therefore, they are being severely reprimanded for their conduct by the committee”.

“In district Mansehra, Senator Azam Swati failed to adequately protect the interests of the party. The committee has decided that he shall have no role in the affairs of PTI, Mansehra, in future and a reprimand will be issued to him accordingly,” the statement said.

After joining the PTI, Mr Swati had for some time worked as the party’s chief in KP.

Arif Yousaf, an MPA from Peshawar, has also been “found acting irresponsibly and is accordingly being reprimanded for his conduct”.

MPA Yasin Khalil, the committee noted, “acted in a highly irresponsible manner and prevented PTI councillors from casting their vote. It has been decided to bar him from holding any position in the party or the government”.

In an off-the-record discussion, one of the PTI lawmakers who have been reprimanded by the committee, said: “I will respond to the reprimand notice, once issued to me.”

A senior PTI office-bearer told Dawn that findings of the committee would remain attached to those who had got away with lesser punishment and they would always be looked upon with distrust by the party leadership.

Only on Saturday, Mr Qureshi, in consultation with the PTI chief, had removed three party leaders from their organisational duties at the district level.

A notification issued by the PTI chairman said: “In consultation with the national organiser, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, organiser of NA-56 Rawalpindi Fiazul Hassan Chohan, organiser of Rahimyar Khan district Rana Raheel and organiser of Dera Ghazi Khan district Ahmed Ali Dareshak have been relieved of their duties with an immediate effect for violating party discipline in connection with distribution of tickets for the local government elections.”

Last month the PTI issued a show-cause notice to its MPA from Okara district, Masood Shafqat Rubera, for opposing party candidate Ashraf Sohna in a by-election which caused the latter’s humiliating defeat.

The party’s core committee had also sought an explanation from Mr Rubera for issuing statements against Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2015

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