KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Wednesday that there was infighting among party members on awarding of tickets for the upcoming general election.
Speaking to the media alongside local party leaders, Imran responded to a question by saying, “It is natural for a growing party to experience infighting”. He, however, added that the dust would settle once party tickets are finalised.
In response to a question regarding lessons learned from the 2013 general election, Imran said, “This time around, we will award tickets after a lot of deliberation.”
When asked to comment on reports that former Muttahida Qaumi Movement member and TV star Aamir Liaquat would be joining PTI, the party’s local leader, Imran Ismail, said they were in talks with Liaquat and many others along with him who wanted to join the party.
“This will take time,” he added.
Continuing his tirade against the Pakistan People’s Party’s government in Sindh, Imran dubbed PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari the head of the province’s ‘corruption mafia’.
He said the biggest corruption was in Sindh and the NAB chief must take notice of it. He accused Faryal Talpur, sister of Asif Zardari, of money laundering and said she must be brought to justice. He said problems would not be resolved without across the board accountability.
“Money which should be spent on the province is being siphoned abroad,” he said, adding: “Zardari prefers to invest in Dubai rather than in Pakistan.”
He also exhorted the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau to investigate $8 billion worth investment by Pakistanis in Dubai. The PTI chairman said that Karachi’s Local Government (LG) system needed to be improved. “This is why [Mayor] Waseem Akhtar has said that he wants Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s LG system,” claimed Imran.
Replying to a question, Imran said eradication of rampant corruption was must to root out terrorism from the country.
Talking about his recent visit to the province, Imran said he had met politicians, lawyers, members of the business community and party workers. He said the situation in the interior of Sindh was deplorable and the PTI would resolve issues after coming to power.
He said that the PTI’s next rally in Sindh would be held on November 5 in Ubauru.
Answering another question about the party’s disgruntled member Ayesha Gulalai, Imran said “if a party member resigns then he or she is no longer a member of the party”.
Separately, addressing a press briefing at the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) House on Wednesday, Imran said the ban on construction of high-rise and multi-storey buildings in Karachi could result in food insecurity
He said that construction industry was the backbone of the economy and the ban on construction of high-rise in Karachi would have repercussive effect on national economy as thousands of people would render jobless. Thousands of other workers linked with more than 70 allied industries, would also face massive unemployment, he said.
Published in Daily Times, October 26th 2017.
