KARACHI: While cracks surface within the city chapter of the opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on Monday reassured its support to the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) in the June 15 Karachi mayoral elections and warned its elected members that any violation of the party decision would lead to their de-seating from the City Council.

The fresh directives came from party’s Sindh chapter president Haleem Adil Sheikh, who asked the party’s union committee (UC) chairmen, vice chairmen, councillors and all the elected members to make sure their presence in the June 15 voting and support the JI candidate as directed by PTI chairman Imran Khan.

“The PTI has unanimously decided to extend unconditional support for JI candidates for the slots of mayor and deputy mayor. All UC chairmen are directed to ensure their presence on the election day and cast their votes in favour of the JI candidates as per party policy,” reads a circular issued by the PTI.

Haleem warns elected representatives of unseating if they abstain or vote against party direction

“Strict action, leading to de-seating, will be taken against any member voting against the party direction or abstaining from casting vote,” it warned.

Voices of dissent

Meanwhile, a group of the elected UC chairmen and vice chairmen of the PTI announced that they would not follow their party decision and abstain from the voting process on June 15.

One of the elected UC chairmen Asad Aman claimed that more than 30 elected representatives of the PTI would not vote for Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the JI candidate for the slot of Karachi mayor, because of their disagreements with the party’s Karachi leadership.

“We have more than 30 UC chairmen and vice chairmen who have decided to abstain from the June 15 voting,” said Mr Aman while talking to the media.

“From day one after the Jan 15 elections, it was decided that the party will not go for any alliance with the JI or PPP. A few leaders on their own have made decisions without consulting those who have won the elections,” he said, adding: “We are part of the PTI and will remain its members but we are not going to vote on June 15.”

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2023