Will conflict brewing in PTI’s core damage their govt?

Internal rifts within the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government emerged once again when Prime Minister Imran Khan had to intervene and stop federal ministers several times from hurling allegations against one another after a controversial statement by the Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry.

The controversial statement of Fawad Chaudhry

According to the statement given by Fawad Chaudhry, the federal government could collapse after six months if performance is not shown. Fawad Chaudhry further disclosed that after the formation of the government, Jahangir Khan Tareen, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Finance Minister Asad Umar had fiercely fought.

Mr. Fawad in his interview had discussed internal rifts within the party ranks and said PTI stalwarts managed to remove one another, as Jehangir Tareen was behind the removal of Asad Umar from the cabinet while the latter managed to oust of Mr Tareen.

The minister said non-elected persons had replaced elected representatives in a close circle of the prime minister, who were unaware of the basic aims and objectives of the party.

Stir in the cabinet

Atypical scenes were observed in the cabinet after one of the ministers raised the issue of federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry’s interview to Voice of America (VOA) in which the latter said rifts among senior party leaders permitted non-elected members, who were unaware of PM’s vision, to join the cabinet.

While Fawad stuck to his remarks against non-elected members in the cabinet meeting, the federal Minister for Water Resources lamented some senior party leaders’ role in his outrage.

Prime Minister expressed displeasure

Prime Minister Khan was angry at the interview and directed PTI leaders to avoid discussing internal party matters openly.

Minister for Information Senator Shibli Faraz in a post-cabinet meeting press conference had disclosed that the issue of Fawad Chaudhry’s interview was discussed in the meeting and the prime minister expressed displeasure on it.

The issues of elected and non-elected cabinet members had already come in the media in the past when some party leaders at different forums had criticized the role of special assistants and advisers to the premier.

According to some media reports, the federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar during the cabinet meeting complained to PM Khan that Mr Fawad had blamed him (Asad) for the removal of Mr Tareen from the party.

Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda also complained to the Prime Minister about what he called “interference” of some senior party leaders in his ministry.

Reaction from the opposition side

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif said that the federal ministers have started fighting among themselves instead of fighting against COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that every day thousands of people become infected with the virus and hundreds die, adding that the PTI government was engaged in a war of interests to destroy Pakistan.

He further said that the incumbent government termed 2020 as the year of progress but the current situation seems like it will ruin the economy. He said that PM is completely unaware of the national issues. 

Meanwhile, Senior PPP leader and Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah said that some of Fawad Chaudhry’s statements may be true. The poor performance of the PTI is before the nation.

Disagreement and the justification of democracy

There can be many flaws in the system of democracy, but its principle is that it considers differences of opinion as to its beauty. There are thousands of political, national, personal and power-sharing interests among political leaders.

In such a situation, instead of eliminating political and ideological differences, Prime Minister Imran Khan must train federal ministers to live with differences by putting aside their own interests.

It is too early to predict any change

Battling with a flailing economy, a ‘non-cooperative’ bureaucracy, and struggling with governance, fighting against COVID-19 pandemic the PTI government is faced with a number of challenges as it simultaneously attempts to set its house in order. But despite the evidence, the situation on-ground suggests it is too early to predict any change in the government.