Shahid Jan
PESHAWAR: Internal concerns within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa surfaced during a recent meeting, where lawmakers voiced complaints about access to the chief minister, cabinet appointments and the distribution of development funds, party sources said.
“According to information, around 25 to 30 members of the provincial assembly have stayed away from the parliamentary party’s meeting,” informed sources. The members who boycotted the meeting include Ali Amin Gandapur, Qasim Ali Shah, Sher Ali Afridi, Fazal Elahi, Naik Muhammad, Sajjad Barakwal and Anwar Zeb Khan.
Many of those lawmakers who skipped the PTI parliamentary party meeting were upset over the cabinet related matters and administrative issues, while some lawmakers were reportedly overseas and could not attend the meeting, according to sources.
Several lawmakers expressed their disappointment over the lack of communication with the chief minister during the meeting. The lawmakers complained of difficulties accessing the chief minister, adding that neither the chief minister nor his personal secretary was accessible.
However, CM Sohail Afridi guaranteed that communication issues will be sorted out. “We have got a phone number especially reserved for the lawmakers of the provincial assembly,” said the chief minister.
The lawmakers have also been critical about the composition of the provincial cabinet, with the complaint that some divisions have been allotted two or even three cabinet seats while others have been totally ignored. Some of the members have also pointed out that, being a party that stands for justice and equality, PTI must make sure that each elected lawmaker is equally represented.
There have also been reservations regarding the distribution of development money. It was reported that while some elected lawmakers were receiving special treatment, others were being sidelined, thereby restricting them from attending to their constituencies’ requirements.
The lawmaker from Malakand Division has claimed that the biggest division in the province has been completely ignored in the budget this time.
Addressing the concerns, the chief minister pointed to ongoing infrastructure initiatives, including plans for a motorway connecting Swat and Dir. He assured lawmakers that their grievances would be resolved and pledged that development funds and projects would be distributed fairly across the province.
Despite the criticism, lawmakers reiterated their confidence in Afridi’s leadership, noting that he enjoyed the trust of PTI founder Imran Khan. However, they emphasized the need for equal treatment of all party members and greater internal cohesion moving forward.
