PTI’s Asad Umar
ISLAMABAD: PTI leader Asad Umar is in trouble for lambasting Imran Khan for refusing to negotiate elections plan with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
Reacting to Asad Umar’s statement, PTI accused him of being “confused” and “self-serving”.
PTI’s media wing issued a two-page statement on Twitter saying, “Ambiguity and confusion are evident in Asad Umar’s thoughts; Asad Umar’s claims that he stepped down from the duties of secretary general due to disagreements over the chairman’s strategy appear to contradict reality.”
“If Asad Umar disagreed with the decisions of the chairman or the party and did not think it appropriate to go through with them, he should have parted ways with PTI,” it stated.
“His personal interest may be hidden in it, but not the party’s,” the statement alleged.
Moreover, PTI said, “Umar, as Secretary General, is aware of the numerous efforts of the party to discuss national issues with these political parties.
“Asad Umar himself used to take this position that whenever he tried to talk to these parties, they did not discuss any agenda other than the acquisition of NRO.”
According to PTI’s statement, the party had shown great flexibility within the ambit of the Constitution.
“So Asad Umar can justify his indefensible decision but should avoid ignoring the facts.
PTI’s big mistake
Speaking at a TV channel on Monday, Asad Umar said that the PTI’s refusal to negotiate with the PDM was a “big mistake”.
“While PTI is a political reality that polled 16.8 million votes, the PDM made it to parliament with 22.5 million votes,” he said.
Asad Umar, who resigned from party position following the May 9 riots further stated that blaming some personalities of an institution was akin to blaming not only that institution but also the entire nation.
“May 9 was a wake-up call, and everyone must take two steps back,” he said.
Importantly, PTI leader Asad Umar also expressed displeasure about the PTI chairman’s current course of action.
“I do not agree with the current strategy of the PTI chairman,” he said.
He, nonetheless, clarified that he had no intention of doing politics in any other party except the PTI. The vote bank belongs only to Imran Khan and not any other party leader. If Imran Khan himself decides to be minus, then the party may disappear, Umar added.
