ISLAMABAD/MULTAN - The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Monday announced that it was boycotting the by-election for NA-149 (Multan-II), a seat that fell vacant after Javed Hashmi’s resignation and its subsequent acceptance.
PTI’s senior leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi, through a statement, announced that his party will not be contesting by-elections for the seat.
Hashmi’s resignation from NA-149 was accepted when he made an appearance in the National Assembly following his address to the press where he made “disclosures” regarding the PTI leadership’s allegedly anti-democracy designs.
Hashmi had distanced himself from the protest sit-ins organised by PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek in Islamabad when the two parties decided to mount a march on the official residence of the prime minister.
Hashmi may again contend for the seat for which only one independent The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is likely to field a candidate for the seat.
The by-election for NA-149 is scheduled to be held on October 16.
Suspending party membership of Javed Hashmi, the PTI on Monday summoned him to the party secretariat to explain his case on September 29.
A show-cause notice issued to Hashmi by PTI Secretary General Jehangir Tareen from the party’s Central Secretariat says, “In view of your repeated statements regarding the PTI, the chairman has suspended you in accordance with the constitution of the party.”
The notice has asked Hashmi to submit himself before a disciplinary committee of the party and explain his position on September 29 at 11:00am at the party’ central office in Islamabad.
When Hashmi developed differences with Khan over the latter’s decision to move the protest sit-in towards the PM House, Hashmi had said, “Imran used to claim in the internal party meetings that he had the backing of people wearing badges (army).” After his allegations, the PTI chief while standing at his container parked at the Constitution Avenue had announced to expel Hashmi from his party.
However, the announcement of Khan caused criticism from political circles on the ground that he was violating the party constitution and Hashmi could not be expelled without giving him a chance to explain his position.
Hashmi himself had claimed that he was the elected president of the party.