ISLAMABAD: They were rivals once. Now they have decided to come together to fight against their opponents on the political battlefield to change the status quo.
“Change is inevitable,” said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, in a crowded press conference where he welcomed former Intelligence Bureau chief Masood Sharif Khattak, who contested elections against Imran from NA 15 in Karak, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in 2002, to the party. Khattak formally announced his affiliation with the PTI on Friday. He quit the PPP when former chairperson Benazir Bhutto struck a deal with former president Pervez Musharraf on the National Reconciliation Ordinance in 2007. Khattak had been a member of the central executive committee (CEC) for 10 years. According to Imran, “The PTI is a liberator for oppressed people.” No alliance is possible with the PML-N or the PPP till their leaders declare their assets, he stated. The PTI in its CEC meeting will nominate members for a parliamentary board to scrutinise politicians who wish to join the party, he said. “PTI will not award tickets to opportunists and corrupt politicians.” Imran reiterated. “The CEC will also constitute a cell to expose hidden assets of politicians.”
The PTI chief said the party will depute ten youngsters at every polling booth to observe the turnout as well as to facilitate voters in the next general election. “These cheetahs will make sure there is no rigging at polling stations.” He said, “We will approach the Supreme Court to seek legal assurance for free and fair elections in the country.” However, he categorically stated that free and fair elections are impossible under President Zardari.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) statement
Replying to a query on a statement by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), PTI Chairman reiterated his words: “Islam is a religion of liberal people.” TTP spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan in his interview with the BBC had called Imran Imran a slave of the US and Europe because he labels himself a ‘liberal’. Taliban should remember that Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) religion is liberal, Imran said. “Compulsion has no place in Islam.” Imran said elements involved in the murder of former premier Benazir Bhutto might have asked TTP to issue statement against him. “Yes, I’m liberal because I follow Allama Iqbal’s ideas,” he stressed.
Case against MQM chief
Imran revealed his party’s legal wing had submitted documentary evidence against MQM chief Altaf Hussain to the Scotland Yard in London. They asked for recording witnesses’ statements but the government did not cooperate with the investigators, he explained. “It’s the PPP’s responsibility to cooperate with the Scotland Yard to resume proceedings against him.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th, 2011.
COMMENTS (93)
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Masood Sharif's inclusion is a good omen. He is a clean man. There are more to come in times ahead... a lot more indeed... PTI is a winning pack and smart movers are sensing the winds of change. Interesting times ahead for our country's political canvas...
@rehmat:
He was arrested in 1996, released in 2000. Now who arrested him and who released him.
@rehmat: Mind it, he was ACCUSED, INVESTIGATED by NAB but NO CASES were filed against him!!!... Unlike Zardari and Sharif who had cases in the court. The old rhetoric of "Innocent until proven guilty" is only applcable in the court of law. If the case is never filed, who will prove him guilty then?
@"I want to be PM, only": Thanks for correction, he headed FIA (another civilian agency) during first Benazir term and the IB, during second.
Dear Sir,
When we hope something in change in Pakistan, but after few days we are going back in the past, Now Imran khan PTI party as invited old face and used, Example Masood shareef formar PPP leader and FIa cheif, now PTI going as normal party just like PPP and PMN , Imran u are going big mistake without Karachi support u never come in power,and u party heiar against MQM people in party. MQM is only power.please do not give any party leadership. for this type of man.
@Freeman: Expect a Bit less My friend. Huge expectations will hurt your feelings :)
In politics there are no permanent friends or foes. Remember, "realities keep changing."
@Mariam Khan: He is becoming Magical power. Soon you will see he will be Pakistans Prime Minister. Imran will take Pkaistan on the right track Insallah.
Mr masood sharif khatak is eyeing Na 15 karak.Initially he try to join pmln but was not successful.shamsur rehman khtak and farid toofan are already in pmln so this will be one to one contest in Na 15.PMLN has the advantage after toofan has joined their ranks.PMLN will win in karak na 15.
Imran Khan is a cheetah!!
In the traditional parlance, lota refers to those politicians who switch party loyalties to go from parties that are not in power to parties that are IN power. Like the Maneka group in the Punjab Assembly and the break away faction of PML Q that joined PPP in the Baloch assembly. Or PPPPP , i.e. PPP forward block. in 2002.
If you join a party that, according to some, is a facebook party and has no chance of becoming a major political player...people joining such a party are anything BUT a lota.
Imran Khan is not qualified to become the next leader of Pakistan. He may be sincere, but lacks political and administrative acumen. What Pakistan needs is a bold, brave leader who can tame the Pakistani security establishment. Imran will be used by the Pakistani secuirty establishment as a mask, to conitinue their current regressive policies.
People of Pakistan will eliminate corruption under Imran leadership.
Trust Imran, he never let Pakistan down.
Guys lets not get personal here. We should support Imran Khan to bring the middle class people in the league of politics. We do not have a better choice and we have already seen all the existing parties. Let him give a chance. Thats all we ask.
@MAD: "there was no NAB in 1997".
Butthere was in 1999. Google Wikipedia. It will confirm the fact that NAB did arrest Khattak
@John B: Not at all. Musharraf will not join PTI however an alliance between PTI and APML could not be ruled out. Musharraf has his own standing the the masses and people will see it themselves when he will return back to his homeland. We in APML will happily join hands with PTI. We love Imran Khan same as we love Musharraf.
This guy is quite controversial one, and people of Karachi really not like him.
@Imran A. Azeem: Hahahaha imran involved in extra judicial killings that is perhaps the funniest most ignorant comment I have ever read.
So this is the background of the clean man per Wikipedia.
"He was arrested by the Farooq Leghari government in 1996 and imprisoned on charges of corruption as well as allegations which included widespread wiretapping of opposition politicians, judges and senators. Released in 1999, he was investigated by the NAB on corruption charges but no cases of corruption filed against him in any court. In 2002 he was appointed as the Senior Vice President of Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian".
So if a person is arrested and accused of corruption under NAB - he is innocent until the court convict him? If that is the case then on what basis does Imran accuse Zardari/Nawaz of corruption? Or the criteria for corruption are different between PTI and other parties?
The way Imran Khan is welcoming old faces does not suggest that we would see a Revolution. This is only opportunistic politics. Anybody joining PTI must be asked to declare his true assets.
excellent....good for PML-N, they will only have loyal people at the end. Imran great inqilabi will have all inqilabees from all parties.
this is not breaking news....he has always been there, and is also the go-between for imran khan and the army
Funny all the fake liberals on here don't know the ib chief is a former member of PPP. I love pal army and pti like all pakistanis arr
PTI is new Lota League. President General Kiyani will have Imran Khan as his PM and PTI as his party in Parliament.
This is a First and Last Chance for Imran Khan to Prove their Ability to collect honest people across the country and make their PTI strong other wise tsunami will splash every thing.
Imram seems to have opened an "ashram" for homeless politicians!!!
this is a good step for pti and imran khan many congratulations for this achievements and i would also like to say that this guy is clean and does not have any major allegations against him and if there is any plz enlighten us aswell but plz dont make sarcastic comments without knowing anything a ban on other party does not mean that it is a blanket ban and nobody can come into from another parties
Another Corrupt person added in line of PTI just to ensure some power! Is PTI believing in power of Youth or Power of Retired and Corrupt people ? Being a Citizen of Karachi I think this will further effect any hope of PTI gaining some vote bank in Karachi. He has some very bad reputation in Karachi and is involved in extra judicial killings. Organizations of Human Rights in Karachi knows very good about him,
I m disappointed to c the comments of few Pakistanis who are still anti-PTI or in other words pro PML-N & PPP....They are the sole cause of backwardness of Pakistan...Imran Khan has made it very clear that no corrupt leader will b allowed in PTI...& we all know that if all those joining PTI were having any corruption charges on them our fast media would never let them go...SO Plzz Open your eyes...Imran is sincere with Pakistan!!
Yet another sexy man with a hot basal voice comes in PTI. Bring in some other good looking, cool guys like Aitazaz Ahsan, Marvi Memon, SMQ and you've got the sexiest cabinet in the world. Lol.. Btw nice move, MSK is an upright man with some good repute..
At least maood khattak is a clean & good reputed person not like the corrupt PML(N) & PPP MNA,s. Thumbs up to PTI. More honourable & clean people should join PTI to bring change in pakistan. PPP & PML(N) supporters say whatever u want to say, PTI will emerge the winner in next general elections & will put all the corrupt politicians in jail.
lets try to rope in marvi memon
i wish they must sweep next election .. ! we are eager to see Imran Khan as a PM of Paksitan.. !! The Last Hope. If u will not complete your vows then this nation will no longer to trust anymore till hundred of years.. ! This Nation will break up , gravely breakup .. ! You have to anyhow. . We Nation with you !! Pakistan Zindabad !!
Thus is a welcoming Move, Khattak Sb is very smart and brave man, he should be next Fed Interior Minister.
Imran Khan will save Pakistan from corruption by containing it within a bloated and diseased party and selflessly use his love for the Taliban to find out the next place to be bombed and stage a last and final rally there.
Yeah. Or not. Whatever.
Lol at Mushahid Hussain...ur joking right!
No corruption charges were proved against zardari. so now if zardari and nawaz join PPP they will become innocent. Ch. Shujat is right in saying that there is a Laundry in Pindi where politicians go for dry-cleaning.
Next one should be Aitazaz Ahsan inshAllah!
@Maulana Sandwitch:
there was no NAB in 1997.
Another King's party in the making, (ala PML-Q of 2002)
As more and more people are joining PTI, its a good sign as Imran Khan is emerging as new power in politics but he must also apply rules and regulations to his own party members through which he weighs members of other parties. Assets must be declared by every member who joins PTI as it would increase confidence of the people on PTI
Pakistani politics in a nutshell We want change, we want Imran Khan, Long Live PTI. We want change, we want Mustafa Kamal, Long Live MQM. We want change, we want Bilawal Bhutto, Long Live PPP. We want change, we want Hamza Shareef, Long Live PMLN. Whatever you want, nothing is gonna change, Long Live ISI/Army.
What will happen to people who worked for Imran for many years and worked hard and rose from grass root level. Will Imran Khan fullfill his promise that he will bring NEW Faces from Grass root level?. This is a test case for Imran's promises. Let's see
@Maryam: The PTI process of ‘cleaning the politics’ & change continues….. This time PPP is cleaned of another Muhra of Establishment. Hope till elections in 2013, all political parties (PPP, PML(N), ANP, MQM) will be cleaned from their turncoats, corrupt and establishment mohras. Bravo to PTI.
Simply the best ever text to explain "expansion" of pti. Keep it up.
@Lobster: do you even know the time period in which he chief of IB ? try to think before starting giving wisdom to others.
What kind of people are joining PTI? what is Imran gathering under his slogan "CHANGE"? I am shocked to see him in the party and being the person who is frm Karachi and have lived in Karachi in 1992s is upset..and not going to support Imran's ideology anymore.
Mr Khan should rope in people like Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Mushahid Hussain Syed.
I think Imran Khan should go for mainstream politicians rather than taking up sidelined people.The best amongst them are Mr Amir Muqam and Wasim Sajjad.
Khattak had a good reputation. He was a senior vice president of PPP. He served Benazir Bhutto in 1993-1996. He was jailed after her dismissal but no charges could be proved. He supported the lawyer's movement in 2007 and disagreed with BB's deal with Musharraf. Good move by Imran
He has a questionable reputation having played a key role in the politically motivated armed operation against the third largest political party. He was present at the crime scene when Murtaza Bhutto was murdered. Note the crime scene was washed in minutes. Wiretapping of politicians and govt officials was done at his behest. Wrong choice by Imran who till today has no scandals against him.
Just Watch All Previous old corrupt politicians join PTI ...nothing in the hand at end of youngster
Khattak was chief of Intelligence Bureau (IB), which is a civil agency. It was often at odds with army agencies in past. It worked for Prime Minister during Benazir era whereas the military agencies were working for then president Ghulam Ishaq.
First, all the political commentators say that imran khan doesnt have winning candidates and when electable candidates are joining him, they have started saying that he cannot bring change with old faces, I see no harm in old faces joining pti as long as they have no corruption charges upon them. secondly, imran khan is only popular in urban areas and i know that people who know imran khan will vote for pti no matter even a khamba stand for the constituency but that isnt the case in rural areas and he would be needing candidates who know rural politics very well. finally, as Ik said that from his party a whole lot of 1000 candidate would get the ticket... and i am pretty sure that most of them would be new faces.
@Adeel Ahmed:
You and your imran khan & co can make any one corrupt with out giving a proof. old politician mean corruption is what "Hum" imran khan told us.
Do you have a proof that every one who is part of PPP is corrupt? By the way, It is always easy to bring "inqalab" while being a FRONT MAN of forces of status quo.
stamp it ! ex DGs ISI will also start joining PTI ;)
PTI = next JI
Right, so apprently all politicans are corrupt when Imran Khan slanders them on television, but corruption against new PTI members has to be proved? I do honestly believe PTI has arrived as a major political force. Finally behaving like a political party.
ryt
Masha'Allah PTI is going to be strong. After biggest Man's Join PTI. Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Mr. Masood Khan and many more May Allah Bless All
@ I only want to be PM: You may prove about his bad reputation if I am wrong. Even his opponent agrees on his good reputation. Nobody can raise finger on him accept MQM beacuse his role in Karachji operation.
BTW, Why every old politician mean corruption to you guys. I think it is a positive point if someone been part of PPP and never involve in corruption.
Clean people please Imran Bhai, u got great chance, may Allah be with u always. Pakistan got talent for sure we need to tap it.
@"I only want to be PM": well said...PTI ...Imran khan and its supporters all are living in fools paradise....they think they are angels....and Imran has some magical powers wow great....what else could be accpeted from bunch of emotional children....
Great decision. It's time that all patriotic people in Pakistan find a voice in PTI. Now some will say what change is that --- I would say this is a big change since these are clean people coming in --- and also the people who will first resign from high posts or assembly seats before joining PTI make a statement that they beleive in PTI manifesto more then saving their seats. Great going.
Masha'Allah good step Mr. masood Sahab And PAkistan Tehreek-E-Insaf is going to be strong :)
All the opportunists are joining PTI and soon they will throw Imran Khan out from it....and will bring a massive change lol
Welcome to Masood Sharif Khatak sb good job we r happy to see u
Imran plese check,whether he was convicted in a NAB case in 1997 or not?
@Adeel Ahmed:
Any one who join PTI is automatically become reputed and upright person. what a logic.
PTI has to come with refined system of internal strength, people will join PTI and one bad fish will be enough to poision whole pool, keeping my fingers accross. as long as people are accountable any one can join the party. God Bless Pakistan
And why not it was imminent, a gardener knows his plant well, when to trim when to water and when to yank out.
Birds of a feather flock together. So Imran is now all 'gung ho.' Salams
good show!
Good reputed and upright person. It will help PTI to make effective interior policies.
W e l c o m e t o P T I M r . K h a t t a k !
It seems that it is now season of "Birds" flying from Siberia to warmer places to seek food and a better warm living conditions!!!! we saw it happening many times specially in ZAB's time- its a survival endeavour. so nothing new .
Regardless of whether people are joining PTI because it agrees with their own clean conscience or because they are just riding the wave, that their actions and politics will be governed by the principles of honesty and integrity set by Imran Khan is definitely comforting.
Way to go PTI .... You people are doing a great job thumbs up spread it as much as you can
Imran you must know, if you give ticket to "Khamba" in KPK, it will win for you. Nevertheless, Khattak is a smart choice and had worked with PPP in great Benazir Bhutto era.
Joining PTI resembles with the formation of IJI in late 80s. Would the power that be , will press Zulfiqar Mirza also to board the band wagon.
Asset declaration? Or now that hes joined PTI he is corruption free?
Next Musharraf will be joining PTI.