PTI report blames ‘Marwat, workers’ for scuffle

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has prepared a report on the recent scuffle of certain party workers with opposition leader Omar Ayub outside the judicial complex of Islamabad.

Sources privy to the report, which will be presented to the PTI founder chairman Imran Khan on July 2, has blamed workers of ‘disgruntled’ senior party leader Sher Afzal Marwat for having scuffled with Omar Ayub, who is also the party’s Secretary General and had tendered resignation from the key party post.

The report has thus put the responsibility of the unpleasant incident on Marwat, which happened on Thursday last when Islamabad District and Sessions Court turned down the pleas of Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi to suspend their seven-year sentences in the Iddat case.

According to the report, Marwat had desired to lead the party’s protest rally in support of the founder chairman. However, this led to an unpleasant situation, forcing Omar Ayub to leave the place in a hurry in utter disbelief.

As a mark of his sheer displeasure over his statements, ‘hurting him and the party’, Imran had a few weeks back removed Marwat from the PTI core committee and political committee and a show-cause notice was issued to him a well.

The politician from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been in the news for his statements and remarks and for targeting certain party leaders. He has responded to the notice, however, the political committee or the core committee has shown no indication of any further action against him. In a bid to build a strong case, Marwat’s statements against party leaders, issued on different occasions, have also referred to in the report. After the surprise resignation of Omar Ayub, Marwat could not help issuing a statement and reportedly said some more party leaders should quit. He had emphasized that only with Shibli Faraz’s resignation, the party will be freed from the clutches of the Qabza mafia.

It is speculated that any major step against Marwat might further deepen the on-going tug of war within the party ranks, which the party denies outright.

Meanwhile, this correspondent tried to get feedback from Marwat on this development, but he was not available on his cell-phone and Whatsapp number. However, on news reports concerning the party, Marwat tweeted to downplay the reported split in the party, adding that the decisions by the party are taken through collective wisdom. “There can be differences on specific issues,” he said. “And those elements who are spreading rumors of forward bloc, they are anti-PTI. PTI is one and united under the leadership of Khan Sahib,” he said.