Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) faces internal conflicts over postponing a planned rally in Lahore on August 27. Conflicting statements from the party’s senior members have confused supporters and workers, leading to unrest.
On one side, PTI Punjab Information Secretary Shaukat Basra officially announced that the rally was being rescheduled. However, Senior Vice President Akmal Bari publicly denied the cancellation and assured the rally would proceed as planned, signaling a clear rift within the leadership.
The Lahore rally was postponed three days after PTI delayed an event in Islamabad on August 22. Shaukat Basra stated that the Lahore rally would follow the rescheduled Islamabad event on September 8, with the party focusing on the latter before setting a new date for Lahore. Akmal Bari said the Lahore rally will be held after the Islamabad Jalsa on September 8. We want to ensure the Islamabad event succeeds before shifting our focus to Lahore.
Despite Shaukat Basra’s clarification, Akmal Bari directly contradicted him during a press conference in Lahore. He denied reports of the rally’s postponement, calling them false and baseless. He firmly declared that the Lahore rally would go ahead on August 27. There is no cancellation. The rally will be held as scheduled, Akmal Bari asserted. These are mere rumors, and we are moving forward with our preparations.
Akmal Bari also expressed frustration with the Lahore administration, accusing them of delaying tactics. He claimed that the authorities had failed to provide a venue despite court orders allowing the rally to take place.
Akmal Bari explained that we have been trying to get permission since August 9, but the administration has yet to tell us where we can hold the rally. We even submitted a copy of the Lahore High Court’s order to the Deputy Commissioner, but there has been no response.
Khurram Latif Khosa of PTI’s Insaaf Lawyers Forum expressed disappointment with the administration, stating that while the court had approved the rally, the authorities were obstructing the process. The court has permitted us. It is now up to the administration to determine the venue, Khurram Latif Khosa stated. If they continue to stall, we will petition for contempt of court.
Khurram Latif Khosa also criticized the inconsistency in how political events are managed in the country. He highlighted that other parties, such as Jamaat-e-Islami, had been granted permission to hold rallies and sit-ins in Islamabad without issue, whereas PTI faced unnecessary hurdles.
Khurram Latif Khosa remarked, ” They are exposing themselves. Everyone can see that they are lying, and there is a clear bias against PTIs.” The conflict between Shaukat Basra and Akmal Bari has disrupted preparations for the Lahore rally, leaving party workers frustrated and dissatisfied with the lack of clear direction.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, a prominent opponent of PTI, seized the opportunity to comment on the party’s internal struggles. During a press conference in Sialkot, Khawaja Asif claimed that PTI’s popularity rapidly declined, and the party faced significant divisions. He pointed out that if PTI’s previous rally in Islamabad had succeeded, the leadership would not have postponed the Lahore event.
Khawaja Asif commented that the party’s support is dwindling, and its internal rifts are becoming more evident. If their rally in Islamabad had succeeded, Imran Khan would never have postponed the Lahore rally.
PTI’s leadership is divided, putting the Lahore rally at risk. With no set venue or clear plan, it’s uncertain if the party can gather support in Lahore. This internal power struggle has left workers and supporters unsure about the party’s direction. The coming days will show if PTI can resolve these issues and move forward.
