ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday appointed his close aides to key positions in the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, only a day after abolishing its administrative structure in the wake of a defeat in the first phase of local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The PTI suffered a major setback in the electoral contest held in 17 districts on Sunday after losing the coveted mayoral seat in the province which it has ruled since 2013, making the prime minister attribute his party's weak performance to "wrong candidate selection."
He was critical of senior party officials for overlooking merit and distributing election tickets among their family members during a consultative meeting focusing on the issue on Friday.
The prime minister also dissolved the party's administrative structure and removed its chief organizer and other officials from their posts.
The new appointments on Saturday were announced by the country's information minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Twitter.
"After dissolving intra-party bodies, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan has announced the party's new organizational structure," he said. "Asad Umar will be the new PTI secretary general while Pervez Khattak from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Zaidi from Sindh, Qasim Suri from Balochistan, Shafqat Mehmood from Punjab and Khusro Bakhtiar from Southern Punjab will presidents of their respective regions."
Hussain announced in a separate tweet the prime minister had also appointed Amir Mehmood Kiani as the party's additional secretary general.
The PTI party faced intense criticism after losing the local government elections since opposition politicians maintained the prime minister and his team had been rejected by the masses.
The ruling party, however, dismissed such assertions while blaming the administrative flaws and nepotism for its defeat in the elections.
The prime minister assured his party supporters earlier this week he would "personally be overseeing" the next phase of the electoral contest, adding that his party would "come out strong."
Hussain also told the media on Friday that PTI was the only national party which was competing with different regional factions.
Pakistan PM reorganises ruling party, appoints new office-bearers after local election defeat
https://arab.news/wwgqz
Pakistan PM reorganises ruling party, appoints new office-bearers after local election defeat
- Khan abolished the party's old administrative structure after holding a consultative meeting on Friday
- PTI lost the first phase of local government polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province it has ruled since 2013
Pakistan PM calls for faster CPEC implementation, pledges security for Chinese workers
- Shehbaz Sharif pushes expanded cooperation in agriculture, IT and mining under CPEC phase two
- Chinese envoy reaffirms Beijing’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and economic development
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called for speeding up projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and pledged stronger security guarantees for Chinese workers and investments, during a meeting with China’s ambassador in Islamabad.
Sharif made the remarks as the two countries strive to launch the second phase of CPEC, a multibillion-dollar infrastructure and energy initiative launched in 2015 as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
CPEC’s first phase focused largely on power generation and transport infrastructure aimed at easing Pakistan’s chronic energy shortages and improving connectivity. The second phase seeks to expand cooperation into industrial development, with an emphasis on special economic zones and export-oriented growth.
“While highlighting the importance of accelerating ongoing CPEC projects, the Prime Minister stressed on the need to enhance cooperation in agriculture and IT and mining & minerals,” said a statement circulated by the PM Office after the meeting.
“He also underscored Pakistan’s resolve to provide a secure and conducive environment for Chinese personnel, investments, and institutions in Pakistan,” it added.
Chinese nationals and projects in Pakistan have faced security threats in the past, including attacks by militant groups targeting infrastructure sites and convoys. Islamabad has repeatedly vowed to tighten security and has deployed special protection units for Chinese workers.
China is Pakistan’s closest ally in the region and a key economic partner, with CPEC widely regarded by Islamabad as central to long-term economic growth.
During the meeting, the prime minister conveyed greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, particularly on the occasion of the Chinese New Year.
China’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, reiterated Beijing’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and socioeconomic development, according to the statement. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues and agreed to maintain close coordination.
