Parvez Khattak, the head of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarian, has brought to light PTI’s history of conducting fraudulent intra-party polls, exposing how the party has engaged in such practices four to five times in the past.
The senior politician revealed that these internal elections within PTI are merely a formality for documentation purposes. During an interview in Peshawar, Khattak emphasized the need for genuine democracy within the party, decrying the use of deceptive election processes.
His remarks come on the heels of PTI’s recent election of Barrister Gohar Khan as the new chairman, a decision made by the now-incarcerated former chief, Imran Khan. The legitimacy of these intra-party polls is a point of contention, particularly among long-standing party members who joined during PTI’s inception.
Barrister Gohar has consistently stated that he is holding the position temporarily until Imran Khan’s return from jail. Khattak continued his criticism, highlighting the lack of democratic principles within the party.
He pointed out that the former PTI chairman did not tolerate dissenting voices, expressing Imran Khan’s preference for a presidential system in Pakistan over democratic elections.
Parvez Khattak also criticized Imran Khan’s public disclosure of a state secret during a rally last year, an act for which the former chairman is currently under trial. Khattak insisted that Khan should face charges of terrorism for his actions.
Reflecting on the period of Khan’s ouster and the subsequent instability, Khattak noted that when Imran Khan’s government fell, PTI did not have a majority. According to Khattak, the former chairman aimed to disrupt the country’s functioning and create chaos, adversely affecting the economy for a year and a half.
Additionally, Khattak revealed the formation of a separate team for attacks on army installations on May 9, causing significant economic and infrastructural damage as PTI supporters protested against Khan’s arrest earlier in the year.
Contrary to Imran Khan’s stance on dissolving provincial assemblies where PTI held a majority, Khattak stated that no politician supported such a decision.
