Tareen to remain PTI's 'de facto' secretary general

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) reiterated on Saturday that coveted slot of party's secretary general that fell vacant after disqualification of Jahangir Tareen will not be filled unless the apex court gives its decision on a review petition which the party is set to file shortly. In a meeting held here with party chairman Imran Khan in the chair, the sources said that those lobbying for the top slot were given a categorical message by the top party leadership that all legal options will be exercised to save Tareen from disqualification.
Tareen who had recently gone to London to consult his legal aides, the sources added, is optimistic that the apex court will give him relief in the review petition which he will file in the court after completing the consultation process with his lawyers and senior party leaders.
They said that PTI chairman acknowledged the services of Tareen and assured him that he would always stand by his side, adding the party would file a review petition in the apex court, and all legal means will be used to save his close aide from a life-time disqualification. There are reports that KP Minister for Education Atif Khan is struggling to get the coveted slot of secretary general in case the court rejects Tareen's review petition. But the PTI chief have made it clear to those lobbying for the slot not to create controversy as no one deserves the secretary general's slot better than Tareen.
"If the court rejects the review petition, Traeen will remain a de facto secretary general. But as far as Atif is concerned, I don't think he will be entrusted with such a senior position in the party, as he is yet to go a long way to attain such position," said a senior PTI leader who wished not to be named. He also said that KP Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser will never accept Atif as secretary general given the reason as the secretary general of the party will be automatically handpicked as next chief minister of the province if PTI is voted into power in 2018 elections.
In a statement issued here, the PTI said that the core committee has decided to pursue the Hadaibiya Paper Mills case as a three-judge Supreme Court bench has recently rejected the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) appeal to reopen the Rs 1.2 billion Hudaibiya Paper Mills reference. A group of PTI led by vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi will also participate in an all parties' conference organized by Tahirul Qadri of Awami Muslim League on December 30. It also said that PTI will keep raising voice for the Model Town massacre from every platform unless the justice is done.
The meeting also condemned US vice president Mike Pence's remarks against Pakistan, saying the US should acknowledge the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in the war against terrorism.