ISLAMABAD: Not only his rivals but also some of his staunch supporters have distanced themselves from Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s call for ‘civil disobedience’ and the removal of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) government.

Saeed Khurshid Ahmed, a PTI candidate for National Assembly seat NA-153 in the 2013 election, has conveyed his resentment to Imran Khan over his call for the ‘civil disobedience’.

In a letter addressed to the party chairman, Mr Ahmed stated: “I had joined PTI for the reason that this party believed in merit, institutional freedom, justice and the rule of law.”

Know more: Imran’s surprising call for civil disobedience

Criticising the stance of Mr Khan during the ongoing march, he said the party demand for the removal of the elected prime minister did not convince him as a party worker.

“I felt it my moral obligation to convey my opinion to the PTI leadership though I am not part of the committee dealing with the situation. Since we are seeking an unconstitutional change, it will be disastrous and will definitely lead to a political turmoil and anarchy,” the letter said.

“The public opinion graph shows a U-turn about our party’s vision and existence. We are sharply heading to be branded like a militant group and an anarchist party. The soft image of the party pursuing electoral reforms, institutional freedom, justice, rule of law and above all social, economical and educational reforms in the country seems to have changed.”

Mr Ahmed added: “I have been observing, since the beginning of the ‘Azadi’ march, that you have changed your statements and party position regarding the objectives of the march.

“You have won the confidence of some veteran leaders, such as Javed Hashmi, who joined you in the pursuit of changing the status quo.

“I must say in direct words that there is a disappointment amongst the majority of PTI supporters who don’t like violence, hate speeches, anarchy, insulting remarks against institutions, especially the judiciary, police and a retired army chief, etc.”

He wrote that Pakistan can’t afford to be a failed democracy or state and requested the party chief to withdraw his call for the civil disobedience decision.

Mr Ahmed was not alone in criticising his party chief for his current stance.

K. Asif, a former president of the Insaf Students Federation (ISF), who has been with Mr Khan for over a decade, also did not approve of the decision of his party chief.

Asif, who resigned from the post of the ISF president last year but retained the membership of the party, said that the current leadership of the party appeared to have forgotten its slogan of bringing a change in a positive manner.

He said newcomers had spoiled the image of the PTI by giving ill advices to Imran Khan.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2014