IN an apparently politically motivated statement, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has claimed that the coalition government was contemplating to ban Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), sparking a rejoinder from Barrister Ali Zafar that such a move would be nullified by the Supreme Court within an hour but practically there seems to be no need to place such a ban as the party was fast losing its strength due to unending desertions. In the backdrop of 9 May attacks, which are being probed thoroughly, leaders after leaders are distancing themselves from the party.
The party received a major blow on Wednesday as its Senior Vice President and mouthpiece Fawad Chaudhry joined the ranks of dozens of others who have so far bade farewell to the party. Though another central leader Asad Umar asserted that he was not leaving the party, he too announced to quit the position of Party’s Secretary General as well as the membership of the core committee to save his skin. No doubt, there is beeline of those leaving the party but together with the decision of Dr Shirin Mazari and Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, these desertions have caused a major demoralizing effect on the rank and file of the party and there are apprehensions that more would follow the suit. There are also speculations that a good number of PTI’s former Members of the National and Provincial Assemblies would part ways with the party and join ranks with other parties, especially a new umbrella under the leadership of Jahangir Tareen or PPP. ANP has already said it is willing to welcome all those who wish to join the party and the same might be the case with some other parties. On the other hand, PTI Chairman Imran Khan has, though, expressed his helplessness over the situation saying neither there are leaders nor workers to talk to but on the other hand he was optimistic that anyone getting a PTI ticket would win elections, meaning thereby that he doesn’t need these turncoats. This might be true to some extent but there is no substitute to experience and maturity and wholesale desertions would inflict damage that it would not be able to recover for a long time. In fact, the country has been witnessing such trends every now and then with legitimate demands from the sober-minded people to place an effective ban on the change of loyalties. It is also for the people to teach them a lesson at the time of the general election.
