SWABI: Opposing the decisions and policies of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leadership, former minister for local government Shahram Khan Tarakai rejected what he called the ‘selected cabinet’ of district office-bearers whose names were announced four days ago by the party.

Addressing a public gathering at Tarakai House here on Tuesday, he came down hard on the party’s provincial leaders.

This was his first open reaction after his ouster from the provincial cabinet along with Atif Khan and Shakeel Ahmad. The gathering was attended by a large number of his supporters and party workers.

Mr Shahram said the leaders were dividing the party and failed to give due respect to the people’s mandate.

“The district cabinet should have been selected with consensus. All the office-bearers are my brothers, but we were divided by some leaders,” he said.

During his address, the former minister claimed that there were reports that defence minister Pervez Khattak was planning to leave PTI before the next general elections because his priorities were totally different from that of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

He also accused National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser of conspiring to keep them away from the party affairs and block their move to regain previous position.

He said that Swabi was the only district in the province where the leaders and workers were having no differences or grouping in the party because they had been accommodating each other.

He said that they pushed the Tarakai House leaders to wall. However, he added that nothing could be imposed on them.

“We all oppose the cabinet and the party could not be run with such tactics, ’’he said.

MNA Usman Tarakai said he sat on the opposition benches for almost a decade and was elected for third consecutive term. “I could return as MNA for the fourth time in the next general election as well because we work for the people and they support us,’’ he said.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2020