DESPITE the fact that the past moves to quit assemblies or tender resignations did not suit the core interests of the party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is threatening to quit Parliament. Speaking on a point of order on the floor of the National Assembly, party Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan warned that it would not be possible for them to sit in the House anymore, or it might be a matter of only a few months, if the prevailing situation continued. In a related development, the PTI parliamentary party on Monday said that excluding the party founder from politics would only weaken the political system.
The party was already facing difficulties but its woes complicated following continued criticism of the defence forces and their leadership prompting unusual remarks from the military spokesperson. It is because of the unending anti-establishment statements and posture of the PTI leadership that now the party is attracting criticism of other political parties. No doubt, the PTI is a popular party and it would not be appropriate to talk about minus-Imran formula but it is also a fact that the party has to blame itself for its predicament because of its confused policy on dialogue and parliamentary politics. Analysts believe the party would get little or no benefit in case it leaves the parliament and instead it should welcome the repeated offers by the Speaker of the Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for mediation between the Government and the PTI as dialogue was the only way forward.
