ISLAMABAD: After weeks of controversy, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday appointed an interim set up for the party leadership.

The new setup has been announced, ostensibly, following recommendations made by the party’s election tribunal – headed by retired Justice Wajihuddin Ahmad – but despite his protestations, the office bearers who will continue serving the party until the next intra-party elections are actually not new faces.

As per the notification, issued by the media wing of the party, all incumbent top-tier leaders have been given new assignments corresponding to their existing responsibilities; meaning effectively that there has been no change at all.

Justice Wajih has already rejected the party’s decision to appoint temporary organisers at the provincial and central levels, maintaining that most of the PTI’s top leaders have been elected through a flawed intra-party election.

Following the dissolution of the entire organizational setup of the party, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi will now act as national organiser for the party. General Secretary Jahangir Tareen – who Justice Wajih pointed out as being responsible for influencing the outcome of the previous intra-party elections – will now serve the party as its central organiser. Saifullah Niazi, who was additional secretary of the party, will now serve as the additional central organiser.

Imran Khan appoints interim leadership on election tribunal’s recommendations; tribunal head says interim leaders won’t be eligible for next intra-party polls

However, there is little change in the PTI’s media team. Staff officer to the PTI Chairman Naeemul Haq, will now serve as information secretary, a position earlier held by Dr Shireen Mazari. Under the new setup, Dr Mazari will work as spokesperson for the chairman and double as the party’s chief whip in the National Assembly. Islamabad MNA Asad Umar has been appointed head of media, marketing and policy.

The chairman’s offices in Lahore and Karachi will be jointly managed by Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Jahangir Tareen.

PTI had already announced its provincial-level organisers last week. Former governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar has been appointed the organiser in Punjab, whereas MNA Dr Arif Alvi has been given the same responsibility in Sindh. Similarly, Yousuf Ayub and Humayun Jogezai have been nominated as PTI organisers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, respectively, and will report to the national organiser.

As per the latest notification, the responsibility for organisation in Punjab, as the largest and most populated province with 148 National Assembly seats, has been divided further. Shah Mehmmod Qureshi will have the additional responsibility for Multan, Sahiwal, DG Khan & Bahawalpur divisions, whereas Chaudry Sarwar will look after Faisalabad, Lahore, Sargodha, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi.

When asked to comment on the appointment of party organisers, Justice Wajih told Dawn that he had already e-mailed a written order to all party leaders in this regard.

Rejecting the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman’s order for the dissolution of the party’s election tribunal, Justice Wajih had said in his written order that, “In short, the tribunal finds itself to be very much alive and functional. Indeed, if anything, it has been acting in the larger party interest and attempting to cleanse it from within so as to be better equipped to deliver externally at the national level. Pursuant to its mandate, the tribunal would continue to function in the larger party interest.”

Arguing against the dissolution of the election tribunal and recounting previous incidents, Justice Wajih has written in his order that “anyone appointed in interim setup shall not be eligible to contest next intra-party elections.” The election tribunal will hold its next meeting on June 1, said Justice Wajih.

When asked, a senior PTI leader told Dawn on the condition of anonymity, “We hope Justice Wajih will let the party work now.”

However, it seems the former judge is geared up to continue his struggle which, sources say, is aimed at ensuring that true democracy prevails in the country.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2015

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