News Analysis |
Pakistan Tehreek –e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Dawar Khan Kundi faces an uncertain future after a barrage of comments against the party performance and its leadership. On Friday, rather surprisingly, PTI ‘s chairman Imran Khan and information secretary issued contradictory statements regarding his expulsion from the party.
Recently, Kundi accused Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) minister of revenue, Ali Amin Gandapur, of protecting the principal accused of stripping and forcing a 16-year old girl to walk through the streets of his village in Dera Ismail Khan over an honor related issue.
Kundi who is an MNA from NA-25 district Tank first wrote a letter on November 9th to Imran Khan where he stated that Ali Amin is related to the family of the accused. He demanded the immediate removal of the minister from his post and described him as “a source of embarrassment for the party.”
PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhary stated that the party had issued a show cause notice to the outspoken MNA, Kundi, for misconduct and violation of the party policy.
In reaction to his continuous barrage of negative comments and extensive coverage on the media, Gandapur reacted strongly and lamented the estranged PTI lawmaker for creating a rift within the party. He stated, “He is a political rival and is forcing the survivor to say what he wants.” There has been no end to this spat between the political rivals thus far as they continue to take leverage over each other at the party’s expense.
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Imran Khan, while speaking to a private channel, declared Kundi a liar and expelled him from the party via a video link. Imran remarked that Kundi has violated the party’s discipline many times and spoke against the party on multiple occasions in the recent past and such irresponsible attitude won’t be tolerated anymore.
He further remarked that Kundi does not attend the party meetings and this forced him to take such action. Imran also argued that his party has a proper code of conduct and disciplinary cell regarding such issues.
If Kundi experienced something wrong in his constituency, rather than speaking with the media, he should have complained to the party hierarchy, Khan remarked. He continued that he has spoken with the IG-KP and was given full assurance that there was no meddling in police affairs by the incumbent provincial government.
Kundi who is an MNA from NA-25 district Tank first wrote a letter on November 9th to Imran Khan where he stated that Ali Amin is related to the family of the accused.
However, contrary to Imran’s statement, PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhary stated that the party had issued a show cause notice to the outspoken MNA, Kundi, for misconduct and violation of the party policy. In reaction to his verbal expulsion from the party, Kundi denied the reports and reaffirmed that he had not been expelled from the party. While talking to private channels, he made a clarifying statement and said, “I cannot be dismissed from the party via a video statement from the party chief. I have served the party and its ideology loyally, and expulsion is not this straightforward and has specific parameters and procedures which have to be followed.”
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He continued his offensive against the party and targeted the party’s performance in KP. On the contrary to Imran’s much-publicized stance on KP police’s extraordinary performance, Kundi criticized the police for operating under the influence of the ruling leaders of the provincial government.
He argued that the accused were able to register the case against the victim’s family first. Under pressure from CM KP-Pervez Khattak, the girl’s family was able to register an FIR against the alleged culprits, and the individual who had initially registered an FIR against the girl was present in the police station for 15-days and was instrumental in changing the girl’s initial statement.
Based on these observations and facts Kundi questioned the performance of KP police and deemed it highly objectionable and non-exemplary conduct.
Kundi accused Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) minister of revenue, Ali Amin Gandapur, of protecting the principal accused of stripping and forcing a 16-year old girl to walk through the streets of his village in Dera Ismail Khan over an honor related issue.
PTI’s stance on the issue is yet to be clarified. Though Imran has already stated that Kundi is no longer part of PTI, formal expulsion is yet to be finalized as per PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhary.Moreover, the party’s central information secretary Shafqat Mahmood has taken an entirely different stance and issued a clarification soon afterward that a different path will be taken in dealing with this issue.
It appears that PTI will take a legal route and action will be taken as per party’s rules and regulations. Based on the current war of words, it looks imminent that Kundi will be expelled sooner or later.