REFERENCE Asha’ar Rehman’s article ‘In search of power’ (May 12). The writer has played down Khar as a politician and thus not endorsed Imran Khan’s decision to accept him in the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

A political party rests on four props: policy and programme; leadership; organisational set-up and party activists. In PTI’s case, if Imran Khan is providing leadership, and is busy setting out policy and programme of his party, the other two factors need to be managed and looked after by the second tier of the PTI leadership.

In view of his political career that spans more than half a century, Mr Khar seems to be the right choice to look after the organisational setup and handle PTI activists for the best use of his new party. He certainly understands the politics of Punjab and can hedge the PTI against professional politicians in urban and rural Punjab.

On the other hand, there is nothing new about politicians joining other political parties in their political career. Political parties are well within their rights to welcome or turn down a certain politician. Moreover, it goes without saying that no political party can shut its doors forever on those who are always a potential challenger to its political adversary and can achieve remarkable results against all odds.

Rafat Mahmood Ansari
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2017