KARACHI: A sudden switch by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s local leadership to stand beside the rival Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s candidate for the chairman’s slot in District Municipal Corporation-West created a real drama that eventually ended a six-party anti-MQM alliance.

The drama was witnessed after the polling ended at the DMC-West when the PTI finally nailed its colours to the mast and accepted that it had acted as per a last-minute understanding it reached with the MQM.

The PTI was in alliance with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, the Pakistan Peoples Party, Jamaat-i-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and the Awami National Party. The alliance had fielded a PML-N candidate for the slot of chairman and a PTI man for the post of vice chairman.

However, soon it transpired that the PTI’s councillors were voting for the candidate of the MQM — Izhar Ahmed Khan — for the chairman’s seat instead of voting for the PML-N candidate.

This disclosure shocked everyone in the alliance, particularly the PML-N, which said it had remained committed to its promise and voted for the PTI’s candidate for the vice chairman.

The PTI leadership was asked to clarify its position during vote-count, which was showing that the MQM candidate was getting more votes than the actual numbers his party had.

The alliance claimed they had required numbers in the DMC-West to easily get both the top seats.

However, by ditching, the PTI gained not better than the seat it could have won otherwise as well.

“Perhaps, PTI’s councillors suspected that PML-N was not voting for their candidate,” said a member belonging to the PPP. “The PTI was suspicious against the PML-N as its central leadership is against the counterparts in the PML-N.” Sources said it was the MQM which got benefited by the rival alliance’s weakness.

However, the result of the election that showed MQM and PTI candidates elected was withheld because of some technical issues.

The PTI’s ‘betrayal’ infuriated many in the alliance, but it virtually devastated the PML-N.

Their frustration was witnessed at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation when the party’s candidate for the deputy mayor, Amanullah Afridi, pushed back PTI’s Imran Ismail from the podium while he was addressing the media.

Mr Afridi grabbed the mike and accused the PTI of betraying the very effort taken by all the opposition parties in the city to effectively fight against the MQM.

“You are traitors....as ever,” he said, making his party members around to chant slogans against the PTI. “They [PTI] can never be trusted. They have proved it themselves,” said Mr Afridi.

Mr Ismail, however, opted not to further the confrontation and remained calm, and, then left the scene.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan turbulence
Updated 19 Mar, 2024

Afghan turbulence

RELATIONS between the newly formed government and Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban rulers have begun on an...
In disarray
19 Mar, 2024

In disarray

IT is clear that there is some bad blood within the PTI’s ranks. Ever since the PTI lost a key battle over ...
Festering wound
19 Mar, 2024

Festering wound

PROTESTS unfolded once more in Gwadar, this time against the alleged enforced disappearances of two young men, who...
Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...