PTI Will Take Disciplinary Action Against Aamir Liaqat

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Dr Aamir Liaquat is set to face disciplinary action by the ruling party over his negative comments against the prime minister’s special assistant, Firdous Ashiq Awan, and federal minister Ali Zaidi. Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken notice of Liaquat’s actions and has directed his special assistant and senior PTI member, Naeemul Haque, to conduct an inquiry. The development comes after Liaquat lashed out at Firdous and Zaidi during television interviews and also on microblogging site, Twitter. Liaquat, who was elected from NA-245 (Karachi East-IV), criticised Awan in a series of posts on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon. The MNA said he was happy about unfollowing Firdous on Twitter and criticised the de-facto information minister for “nonsense” statements which he claimed contravened PM Imran’s directives. Listing specific incidents, Liaquat also accused her of turning a blind eye to irregularities in the affairs of Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV). The Karachi-based MNA’s issue with Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi was related to the latter’s recent cleanliness drive in the port city. In a television interview, Liaquat said Zaidi and other party members did not consult with him before launching a campaign in Karachi. The former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) member said he was willing to play his part in the uplift of Karachi but was being ignored by the PTI leadership. Liaquat said no senior party member, including PM Imran, had reached out to him even after he aired his grievances. This is not the MNA’s first controversy with fellow PTI members. In August last year, Liaquat left a PTI WhatsApp group, made for communication between the party’s lawmakers, after being snubbed from a meeting held at the Governor House in Karachi. A month later, he was barred from meeting Imran Khan during the premier’s one-day visit to Karachi.