Sunday, June 24, 2012

Internal problems distract PTI from big issues

By Tariq Farid

LAHORE: As the political scene heats up with the government and the opposition drawing battle lines over big issues, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which always talks of a revolution and radical change, looks distracted and entangled in party’s internal problems.
The “tsunami” party has been unable to launch a big political show for the last couple of months, despite major political upheavals and excruciating public problems, which had exhausted people’s patience and forced them to come on to streets.
Although this year is being considered as the election year, the PTI is unable to finalise its organisational structure and settle differences among party stalwarts, political sources told Daily Times.
“That’s why the party leadership has just made statements over major issues, instead of bringing out tsunamis, which it always commits with the people,” said the sources.
Although PTI chief Imran Khan has demanded fresh elections after the disqualification of prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, the party is unprepared for the major real test, said the sources.
Talking to Daily Times, PTI Information Secretary Shafqat Mahmood said that the party’s internal election process would complete in September. However, he claimed, “The party is fully prepared for the general elections, even if they are announced now.”
The PTI, which has no representation in parliament, but is now considered a potent political force, has exhibited no street power or strength over public issues like agonising electricity load shedding, unbearable price hike and horrible law and order situation, and major political issues like prime minister’s conviction, NA speaker’s ruling, budget 2012-13, and PM’s disqualification.
When asked why the PTI was not active against the issues of electricity load shedding, Shafqat said that the party was holding a rally in Faisalabad on June 27 to express solidarity with the people and demand the government end load shedding.
“As the party has swelled, the organisational structure has become a major challenge for its leadership. The PTI is going through the issues of membership, registration and party elections,” said the sources.
The party leadership, inspired by Turkey’s ruling party’s organisational structure, claimed that PTI’s internal system and model would be exemplary and bring revolution in the country.
“The leadership has admitted that with growing popularity of the party, some unpopular and corrupt elements joined the party. Over which party workers, especially the youth sternly reacted, after which the leadership has decided to be selective while accepting new people in the party,” said sources in the party.
Political observers have said that on the one hand the PTI aims to end constituency politics and on the other hand it has given major titles to those politicians, who are considered strong in their constituencies, while ignoring the services of old party workers.
A PTI leader said that the party strongly opposed the constituency politics and aimed at getting votes on the basis of party’s ideology and manifesto, adding that the party’s internal elections would prove it.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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