Social media users are questioning the appointment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan’s nephew Barrister Hassaan Niazi as the party’s Focal Person on Legal Affairs, terming it ‘nepotism’ and claiming it contradicts the party’s critique of dynastic politics.
As per a notification signed by PTI secretary general Asad Umar, Barrister Hassaan Khan Niazi has been notified as the focal person on legal affairs to the chairperson/party, and will report directly to the chairperson.
Announcing the appointment on Twitter, Hassaan recalled his time working with the PTI, saying he first got arrested at a rally 19 years ago. He also mentioned the Insaf Students Federation, the party’s youth wing, of which he was the president for a while.
Alhumdulillah- 19 years since I first got arrested in PTI rally in front of Nasir Bagh. Then went through the @ISFPakistan nursery. Thank you my Leader for trusting me with this responsibility. May Allah help me achieve all the targets. Special thanks to my lawyers community pic.twitter.com/bGPUAsFLe5
— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) June 6, 2022
Niazi was also involved in the unfortunate attack on the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) in December 2019. A group of almost 250 lawyers, enraged over a remark made by a doctor in a video circulating on social media, had attacked the hospital with firearms and weapons, Niazi being one of them.
Social media users are questioning the PTI’s decision to not only appoint someone who is Khan’s relative, but also the fact that Niazi was involved in an attack on a hospital.
Imran khan appointed his nephew Hassan Niazi as focal person on legal affairs ab nepotism karny waly kahan gaye?
— Zoha. (@zohaaa) June 7, 2022
Well, wrong decision as Hassan Niazi is nephew of IK, also he was video documented rioter in Wokla-gardi at PIC last year, a non-political case which was settled politically. Surely backfire in future. But what 2 say, IK is so seedha to believe any1. #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور
— Talal Ranjha طلال رانجھا (@TalalRanjha) June 7, 2022
I congrats to our brave and frontline warrior #HassaanNiazi on becoming a focal person of legal affairs of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf. pic.twitter.com/IFP8qnaqAS
— Adv Mehar Ahmad (@AdvMeharAhmad1) June 6, 2022
Beginning of Dynastic Politics in #PTI
Not a good sign. https://t.co/zjqZ6lONDJ— Faheem Akhtar (@fahym_x) June 6, 2022
LOOOOLLLL!!! Dynasty, anyone? https://t.co/cgi1a1r60k
— Mehr Husain (@mfhusayn) June 6, 2022
PTI پارٹی چیئرمین/سابق وزیراعظم عمران خان کے بھانجے کو پارٹی لیڈر اور پارٹی کے قانونی معاملات پر فوکل پرسن مقرر کر دیا گیا۔
لیکن جنونیوں کے نزدیک یہ موروثیت نہیں ہو گی۔
کیا پارٹی میں کوئی اور وکیل (خاص کر نوجون وکیل) اس عہدے کے لائق نہیں تھا۔۔۔؟ pic.twitter.com/it0LU6p3YF— Gharidah Farooqi (@GFarooqi) June 6, 2022