Islamabad/ Rawalpindi:
In a calculated gambit to maintain determination in the midst of political evil, Pakistan Tehreek-E-In-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday decided to boycott the upcoming election throughout the country and pull out of all the Standing Committee on Parliamentary Steps, as the Party Frames as a position against an uneven political gaming field.
The Twin decisions came after extensive considerations at a meeting of PTI’s political committee, which unanimously approved the boycott and decided that the party’s lawmakers in the National Assembly would resign in line with instructions from the party’s basic chairman Imran Khan.
According to party sources, the meeting was called to map PTI’s election strategy in the wake of the recent disqualifications that have created vacancies for national and provincial assembly. Members were explicitly asked to give their views on whether the party should contest the election.
Insiders revealed that most members advised against participation, referring to the prevailing political climate and compromising conditions for a fair competition.
The proposal to boycott was unanimously approved with senior leaders, including Sanaullah Masti Khel, Barrister Gohar, Sheikh Waqas Akram and Amir Dogar, supporting strongly the move and calls it in accordance with the guidance of PTI’s founder chairman.
The decision followed days of reported internal debate about whether the party should enter the crisis to protect its political grass, especially in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where threatening disqualifications could undermine its number.
Until recently, many people in PTI considered to contest the election as a necessary measure despite reservations over transparency and justice.
However, the founder of the imprisoned party had repeatedly signaled that PTI should avoid legitimizing the “deficient process”. He had previously ordered the political committee to visit the matter and collect detailed feedback from the members. After consultations, the committee concluded that PTI will stay away from the upcoming voting.
On Tuesday, PTI leaders said the boycott reflects the party’s principle attitude against a compromised election process and growing state pressure. They argued that participation in elections “lack of transparency” would contravene PTI’s attitude towards election integrity.
The resignation pulls in
Shortly after the decision landed, in a parallel development, Faisal Amin Khan, his brother to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, withdrew from three parliamentary committees on the instructions from the PTI founder.
Faisal Amin stepped down from the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, Food Safety and the Parliamentary Task Force and presented his resignation to Chief Whip Amir Dogar.
“I’ve withdrawn on the instructions from the PTI founder,” Faisal Amin confirmed.
Party sources said that more resignation from Standing Committees is expected in the coming days in accordance with the founder’s directive and the decision of the political committee.
‘I won’t bend, I won’t process’
Meanwhile, where he spoke to the media earlier in the day after a meeting with his brother, Aleema Khan announced that Imran has maintained his determination and said that lonely inclusion and threats will not break his determination.
He repeated his determination that he “will neither bow nor beat any appointment”.
Aleema Khan said she and her sisters were grateful to PTI workers who had been standing by them for months.
“For the past three months we were denied a meeting. Today, by the grace of Allah, we finally met him. After four months, all the sisters met together. His lawyers, including Salman Akram Raja, Barrister Gohar and Ali Zafar, also gained access to access,” she said.
She confirmed that the PTI founder was generally in good health, but noticed that he had developed an eye problem. “We are moving the right to his treatment,” she said, adding that doctors from Pim’s Hospital would soon examine him.
‘The judiciary’s responsible for injustices’
The former prime minister held the judiciary responsible for current injustices in the country and said that “if the judges had a conscience, such injustice would never have been allowed”.
In quoted him, his sister Aleema Khan said that Imran declared that “all the responsibility for these injustices lies with the judiciary”. He was also informed of the arrests of his nephews, Shershah Khan and Shahrez Khan, whom he expressed concern for.
In a talk of legal cases against him, Imran noted that penalties and disqualifications of this kind had never witnessed in Pakistan before. He also claimed that the mainstream media had lost credibility because its voice was suppressed and controlled.
He also opposed fresh military operations in Waziristan and warned that a military operation would only create instability.
He also criticized the forced deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan. “Driving Afghans out is against Islamic traditions. I’m ashamed of their forced return.”
The PTI founder expressed grief over the destruction caused by flooding in buns and other areas, adding that the public should now recognize the value of the billion wood project initiated during his term of office.
With regard to political strategy, Imran instructed his party to resign all parliamentary committees. He directed additional lawyer Gohar Khan and Salman Akram Raja about the party’s attitude towards the upcoming election.
“The party must not participate in election,” he said. “Participating would give legitimacy to a process that is already compromised.”
Aleema Khan told journalists that Imran had rejected the resignation of Salman Akram Raja from his party position.
“He has instructed the political committee to restore today. The founder will make a final decision after hearing the party. His clear attitude is that in elections must not be legitimized, though he is open to undergoing different opinions within the party,” she added.
She also said that Bushra Bibi was in good health and that the court’s atmosphere during her performance had been “positive” today.
Separately, PTI -Attorney Salman Akram Raja also confirmed that Imran had not accepted his resignation.
“Khan Sahib did not accept my resignation,” he said, talking to journalists after meeting Khan in Adiala prison.
Raja added that the political committee would meet again in the evening to consider elections.
“Opposition leader Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz are already fighting for their cases in courts. For the National Assembly, Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s name has been repeated by Khan SaBib. In line with his instructions, the political committee will make a final decision on the election.”
