IN the backdrop of consistent reports of split and division in the ranks of the ruling PTI especially in Punjab and KP, Prime Minister Imran Khan has moved firmed to ward off any political threat by taking strict action against violators of Party discipline and sending firm message to others. The Prime Minister spoke at length with Members of the Provincial Assembly in Lahore telling them that Chief Minister Usman Buzdar was there to stay and the Party decided to send three ministers of KP Cabinet home for their objectionable behaviour.
Prime Minister’s visit to Lahore and forthright decision of sacking three ministers of KP cabinet has proved once again that he has firm hold on affairs of the party and has the capability to manage internal crises. Though the Prime Minister has all along been telling all concerned that there would be no change in Punjab but his latest declaration that a conspiracy was being hatched to oust Usman Buzdar and that he will not come under pressure, a reference to reports of emergence of a pressure group. The forward block was apparently a threat to the not so strong majority of the party in the provincial assembly but there were also reports in media that it was created by the Chief Minister himself to ward off any threat to his rule and as a sort of pressure tactic to get full powers, some of which, he believed were taken away by the top bureaucracy. The situation in Punjab was fluid as apart from internal rift of the PTI, there were also negative signals from the main coalition partner – PML(Q) as reflected in statements of its leadership. There were also reports of Governor Muhammad Sarwar also patronizing some members of the provincial assembly besides Tareen and Qureshi factors. The firm stand of the Prime Minister would surely put at rest all sorts of rumours about any change in Punjab but the situation would not change much for long until and unless grievances of MPAs are addressed especially in respect of problems facing their constituents. We would also urge the Prime Minister not to confine himself to issuance of a statement that he knows who benefitted from wheat flour crisis. The severity of the crisis and the magnitude of its impact on the masses demands exemplary action against all those involved irrespective of their party affiliations.
