Amidst internal efforts to de-escalate political tensions within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), former Sindh Governor Imran Ismail emphatically underscored the centrality of the party’s founder, stating firmly, “There can be no substitute for the PTI founder, and that’s the end of it.” His declaration seeks to shut down swirling speculation about the emergence of a new leadership alternative within the party ranks.
Speaking to the media, Ismail expressed bafflement over suggestions that senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi could potentially become the PTI founder’s replacement. He clarified that he and other leaders had visited Qureshi merely to seek “our opinion and his opinion,” confirming that the meeting served to validate a shared party position.
Protocol, Perception, and Internal Dissent
Providing details about the much-talked-about meeting with Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the former Governor mentioned certain pre-meeting delays. He noted that they were made to wait for six to seven minutes before the meeting, and Qureshi further delayed them by two minutes due to the presence of his family members.
Ismail reported that Qureshi echoed the sentiment that there was an urgent need to “de-escalate the political temperature,” a view that aligned with the visiting delegation’s agenda.
However, Ismail offered a significant critique of the party’s current internal climate. He lamented that while previously leaders occasionally disagreed with the PTI founder and offered alternative viewpoints, now “everyone is busy trying to please the PTI founder.” This suggests a stifling of independent political dialogue within the party structure.
Strategic Questions and Calls for Unity
In the same vein, he rhetorically questioned the relevance of individuals like Sheikh Waqas Akram, asking if he possesses 30 years of service to the party. He further alleged that certain figures, such as Sheikh Waqas Akram, are “hiding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” while encouraging others to take risks and come forward.
Concluding his remarks, Imran Ismail revealed that he had met with other senior PTI figures earlier today, and they all agreed that the political temperature must be lowered. He conditioned future actions on the founder’s readiness for dialogue, stating that if the “PTI founder becomes ready, then we can talk to the other side (the government) as well.” This statement hints at a conditional readiness for negotiation with the ruling coalition.
