PPP to rethink poll plan after Imran’s tirade

islamabad — There is resentment within the Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) ranks over its leadership’s decision to form electoral alliances with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) at the local level despite Imran Khan’s repeated outbursts against PPP leaders during public meetings and news conferences, reports Dawn online.

Khan’s latest tirade against the PPP came at a public meeting in Chakwal district’s Talagang area on Sunday, where both parties have entered into a seat adjustment for a Punjab Assembly byelection.

But the outburst has angered the PPP leadership so much that some office-bearers now want the party leadership to reverse its decision before polling day. Farhatullah Babar, the PPP spokesperson, called for reviewing the decision to make seat adjustments with the PTI under the present circumstances.

“Personally, I would like to revisit the electoral alliance with the PTI, but a decision can only be taken by the party,” he said, vowing to raise the matter at a meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee, scheduled to be held in Larkana on Wednesday.

At the public meeting on Sunday, Khan lashed out at the PPP leadership — particularly former president Asif Ali Zardari — even when he was reminded by party spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry that they had a seat adjustment with the PPP in the area.

The by- election in Punjab Assembly’s constituency PP-23 (Chakwal-IV) will be held on April 18.

Speaking to Dawn, Punjab PPP president Qamar Zaman Kaira said that in future, “we shall be careful” while deciding on an electoral alliance with the PTI in any constituency.

The PPP leader said he was surprised to see Khan “abusing the PPP” while speaking at a place where both parties had joined hands to give the ruling party a tough time. He said the PPP had extended its support to PTI as a “goodwill gesture” at the request of the PTI and other opposition parties.

Kaira regretted that the PTI chief had no regard for anyone, saying: “What can we do when Imran does not listen to his own party men, and even embarrasses them publicly.”