Acceptance of Leadership Decisions
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shandana Gulzar has reiterated that all decisions taken by the party’s founder must be accepted without question, emphasizing unity at a time of internal discontent. Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, she stressed that she is thankful for not being part of the PTI’s political or core committee but serves within the parliamentary body instead.
“Whatever decision the founder takes is accepted wholeheartedly,” Gulzar said, highlighting her loyalty to the leadership and underlining the expectation that others should follow suit.
A “Pole Election” and the Rise of Unknown Candidates
Gulzar described the recent elections as a “khamba election” — a phrase in Urdu that loosely translates to a “pole election,” implying that many candidates won primarily because of the PTI founder’s name rather than personal popularity or merit.
She argued that several individuals entered the assemblies without the public even knowing who they were, riding solely on the party founder’s influence and the PTI brand. This, she suggested, demonstrates both the strength of the party’s grassroots appeal and the challenges of internal legitimacy for new lawmakers.
Opposition Leadership and the Choice of Mehmood Khan Achakzai
The PTI founder’s recent decision to nominate Mehmood Khan Achakzai, head of the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly has stirred debate inside Pakistan’s political circles.
Gulzar defended the choice, saying it was made personally by the PTI founder, who wanted an opposition leader capable of “speaking the truth” and openly defending both Pakistan and its constitution.
“This is not the time for fighting over positions,” she insisted. “The parliamentary party must accept all decisions of the founder.”
Loyalty Over Dissent
According to Gulzar, the very personality who enabled many lawmakers to become Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) or Senators deserves their complete loyalty. Instead of challenging his decisions, she argued, they should recognize his role in their political success.
She recalled that some PTI members fought bitterly over election tickets, but ultimately the authority to decide rests solely with the founder. “Whether those decisions prove right or wrong will be determined by time,” she said.
Context: PTI Under Pressure
PTI, once Pakistan’s most popular political movement under former Prime Minister Imran Khan, is navigating turbulent waters. Khan, currently imprisoned and facing multiple legal challenges, still exerts significant influence over the party’s strategy and leadership choices.
The nomination of Achakzai, a veteran politician with a long record of advocating Pashtun nationalism, has raised eyebrows among analysts. Traditionally, opposition leaders in Pakistan have come from larger political parties, such as the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) or the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). PTI’s decision to back a smaller-party leader underscores its strained relations with other opposition groups.
Observers say Gulzar’s remarks reflect the party’s effort to project unity at a time when cracks are beginning to appear. Some PTI members have expressed frustration over being sidelined in decision-making, particularly after the controversial general elections earlier this year, which were marred by allegations of manipulation and voter suppression.
Call for Discipline Amid Uncertainty
Gulzar’s message was clear: the party should avoid internal divisions and stand firm behind the founder’s directives. With Pakistan’s political climate still unsettled and an embattled PTI struggling to retain its influence, her remarks are likely aimed at discouraging defections or public dissent.
As she put it, the ultimate test of whether these decisions serve the party or the country will come only with time.
