Former minister Fawad Chaudhry disclosed on Wednesday that senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have reached out to him, requesting leniency towards the party leadership amidst growing internal conflicts
Speaking to journalists in the federal capital, Chaudhry confirmed that Asad Qaiser and Ali Amin Gandapur contacted him, urging a softer approach.
Chaudhry remarked that the PTI founder could not emerge in the next thirteen months under current circumstances. Upon his release from jail, Chaudhry’s first conversation was with Asad Qaiser, advising him to reach out to Maulana Fazlur Rehman. He criticized the party’s current strategy of relying on legal battles, arguing it would never secure the founder’s release.
Reflecting on PTI’s recent history, Chaudhry suggested the party should have protested on February 9 instead of following Shibli Faraz’s advice to raise the issue in Parliament. He questioned the effectiveness of protests given the minimal participation and the party’s inability to gain entry to Parliament.
Chaudhry emphasized the need for unity among opposition parties, including Fazlur Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islami, PTI, and GDA. He proposed offering key positions to JUI and GDA to foster collaboration. He criticized the current PTI leadership for their lack of political understanding and warned of dire consequences for the country if the PTI founder loses the battle.
He also advised PTI to hold protest camps in the Senate and National Assembly instead of public demonstrations, which he argued would only lead to arrests and suffering for poor workers. He recalled how Benazir Bhutto had effectively challenged the government with just 17 people.
Chaudhry critiqued the current leadership’s treatment of Sheikh Rasheed and the misinformation relayed to the PTI founder about him. He noted that during tough times, certain individuals stayed home, highlighting the need for strong political figures.
He further asserted that the army is a national institution that they would never fight against or weaken. He questioned the logic of negotiating with the government and establishment under the current circumstances.
Chaudhry concluded that the current government has no regard for the constitution and law, stating that politically and morally, the government has already lost. He emphasized that the PTI founder won the February 8 election, while the current government lost, lacking any moral justification to form a government.
Sources revealed that senior PTI leaders reached out to Chaudhry, urging him not to criticize the current party leadership. Both Chaudhry and the PTI leadership agreed on the necessity for opposition parties to unite under the present circumstances. PTI leadership assured him that his suggestions would be given due consideration.
Amid escalating conflicts within the party, PTI has seen a wave of resignations. Junaid Akbar resigned from the party’s core committee on Saturday, following Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, who stepped down as PTI secretary general, indicating further changes in the party’s organizational structure.
