KAHUTA: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Sunday that if the government was truly democratic, then it would have held elections by now.
Had the current government come into power through the people and not the NRO, elections would have been held by now, Khan said during his address in Kahuta.
Quoting Supreme Court’s earlier statement about Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani being a “dishonest person”, Imran hit out at the premier, saying if Gilani had some ‘shame,’ he would have held the elections. “There is a deficit of shame,” Khan added.
The PTI chairman said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz should resign from the National Assembly and Punjab Assembly seats if the party chief, Nawaz Sharif, thinks the government is destroying the country.
Adding that no resignation would be submitted, Khan said the Pakistan Peoples Party and the PML-N are not ‘ideological parties’ and that majority of their members are ‘opportunists.’
“I predict they will not resign from the Punjab Assembly, even if they resign from the National Assembly,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2012.
COMMENTS (45)
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Too many anti IMRAN KHAN people here today. One thing is clear IK/ PTI will sweep next General elections. But when it will happen is yet to be decided.
A fox waits for a bait when two goats fight. Imran Khan is restless now to grab the power when the nation is passing through a critical time because of the fight between judiciary and executive and other innumerable problems. The euphoria will die soon as no one person can lift the country out of this mess.
@Ch Allah Daad:
Here is last paragraph from my previous post.
"Legally they can stay till 2013, Morally they should go back to people of Pakistan NOW and ask for their confidence and vote once again considering the situation. We claim to be a democracy, let the people decide."
If current gov is confident that they have served people of Pakistan well and fulfilled their promises, and can come back with atleast same mandate or even better, they should go to people of Pakistan, and ask their assistance and support to shut up the opposition, Judiciary and military. Personally I am in favor of them completing their term. This way they will be voted out, just like "Kings Party" was demolished in 2008. I am against making any more political martyrs. If Musharraf had let Nawaz Sharif finish his term, he would never had come back to get sympathy votes in 2008.
The PPP won because of the sympathy vote after BB's assassination. Even if a symbolic goat was leading the PPP, it would have won - such were sentiments of the time.
@ Umar, I won't argue with you that Democracy has roots in Canada and in Pakistan its still very young but as per your logic, Tories called for new elections because they could not pass a financial bill (in British Parliamentary System, any failed financial bill is considered vote of no-confidence, other bills are not that important), which meant Conservatives lost vote of confidence in Canadian House of Commons. PM Harper called for fresh mendate because he lost confidence of the house, whereas PPP still has majority in the house, ( thanks to MQM, ANP and PML(Q)). If any two of these three parties and FATA members refuse to side with PPP, then house should be asked to continue with PPP government or elect new government. In any case, according to our consitution, Only Prime Minister can dissolve assembly and call for new elections, or Parliament decides that PM has lost confidence and no other party is interested to form government, thirdly opposition do not let government to pass the budget or any amendment in financial bill and lastly assembly completes its term. The SC and Army can force PM and President to resign but no one can dissolve parliament and order new elections if majority of Parliament members don't want it before five years period.
Story of a DEMOCRACY (Canada). Elections were held in Nov 2008 and Conservative party got highest number of seats, but short of a majority in the Parliment. They still made a government(without coallation), PM gor vote of confidence because his party had highest number of seats. He did not have to distribute ministries to other parties. Then 2.5 yrs later when he wanted to pass a bill in the Parliment and was having trouble to do that because of his less than half seats in the parliment, he decided to go to polls asking Canadians to give him majority so he can implment his policies, and presented his 2.5 yr progress record as an example. Elections were held on 2nd May 2011 and this time he came back with a majority.
Wondering if current government would dare to go back to people of Pakistan with a confidence that they have done so much good for Pakistan that this time they can be back with a bigger majority and will shut people like Imran Khan that claim that people do not have trust in the government.
Legally they can stay till 2013, Morally they should go back to people of Pakistan NOW and ask for their confidence and vote once again considering the situation. We claim to be a democracy, let the people decide.
This government could be any thing,but democratic.
@ PP, I agree that PPP has played some part in mismanagement of Pak Railway, PIA, Steel Mill and OGDC but blaming them entirely is intelectual dishonesty. People like you would blame Bahadar Shah Zafar for Mughal downfall. In this Hell, all are sinners.
yes PPP has a large vote bank on the facebook, so Imran khan just write ur status their instead of press release
@Shak: Do they????
Shak, what is the most important asset? It is one's children? Why is Khan Sahib hiding the most sacred asset? And what of the poor girl?!?!
How can you expect people to vote in a PM without questioning this?
Most of the Time Imran Khan talk against democracy. This Government should complete his 5 years so that roots of democracy become strong in Pakistan. Mid term elections is not a good idea but Imran Khan will always favour Mid term elections. Senate elections are going to held soon and PTI wants to be a part of senate. So its clear that why Imran Khan is giving such statements. KILLING DEMOCRACY IS NOT JUSTIFIED
PTI lovers... You can not deny the fact that the leader you follow blindly is no ANGEL, he did have a tinted past . . .!!!!
Imran should thank that there is no real democracy anywhere. If PTI had real Democracy, it would elect Musharaf as its leader. Musharaf supporters are in majority in PTI and they are waiting anxioulsy to oust Imran. Once bogus members of PTI are delisted only left would be real Musharaf supporters. Bye Bye Imran.
IK should be clear. Does he want elections on the basis of (in his own challenge) Mush's bogus electoral lists or new as the SC asked? He has to decide elections on bogus lists or new lists? He cannot have both.
Imran Khan Sb... today you should have condoled death of arfa... a real child paradigy..unfortunately it seems you have power lust more like other politicians.. you claim to be a perfect P/M , you dont know what talent is... people understand everything but they have no choice than to stay at home and comment on your news...
Lets PPP complete its term and let them complete vanish pak railway, PIA, Pak steel, and let them recruit matric pass as chairman like in OGDC by pime minister. PPP govt is in shamble.
If you were truly democratic Mr.Khan, you would allow the government complete its term.
Ppl who bring up Sita white, have such a closed mind. First of all it was long time ago and ppl change, second most politicians in Pakistan have pasts like this. Most important of all we should care more about his policies and ideas. Who he slept with will not give you and your children a better future.
i dont understand why do people people still talk about jewish lobby Imran khan's ex wife was NEVER A JEW she was a christian who converted to islam when she married imran khan. His sons are muslim. They have muslim names aswell. why dont these people say shaukat khanum is run by jewish lobby in this topic their mouths shut. for fifteen years nobody said imran khan was establishment's man just because pti has become a force to reckon with people are accusing him for no reason and above all the accusers are those who themselves were created by the establishment political differences aside these personal attacks are becoming a bit lame now..
@kamran: Doesn't really matter if he has 1 or 10 kids... what matters is that he doesn't gulp tax payers money, use institutions to grow his own wealth and represent Pakistan in an honorable manner. Shaukat Khanum YES YES , Sit white , who cares...
he sounds like if the govt was democratic I would be the PM! I have yet to see a concrete statement from this guy!
@Hafeez: People like you says "degree tu degree hoti hai..jaali ho ke asli".... jibberish who???
@Colonel, you have a very myopic understanding of democracy. In REAL democracies when governments cannot perform, they must resign. See if your love for this democratic government can keep lights on and gas supply continue for four hours in a stretch if you live in Pakistan !!!
Please Imran Khan Your knowledge of cricket is wonderfull But your knowledge of politics is NIL Can you name a democratic country where elections have been called on the demand by an UNELECTED leader. In a true democratic country unelected leaders do not poke their nose unless they have the backing of the voters after the eletionslol at express tribune, he spoke in kahuta not quetta!!!!
@colonel What more can i say when a colonel talks about elections....
anyways http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr9tc-t_3NM
@Hafeez He didn't get the number from the air. If you were really concerned about Pakistan and you were following the news then you would have read in the news about the election commission declaring those votes bogus and fake!! @K B Kale Musharraf's time was over and he had to go out. America wanted a civilian govt to carry out drone attacks in Pakistan because Musharraf was very reluctant on drone strikes. So there had to be a regime change.
why he always speak & adivce PML N to resign, dear imran you are not able to handle our country.
If 2008 elections were rigged, Musharraf should have won hands down. But he lost miserably! Morale of the story? They were quite fair!
@Abdul: Had elections had taken place there would not be a Chaudhry Iftikhar Court (in fact, the judges could still be under house arrest) nor would Kayani and Pasha received extensions!
I am afraid IK will not participate even in the next elections because he becomes an opposition to opposition. In fact he is opposed to each and every thing democratic. If Imran Khan expect that he will sweep the next elections then he should support this government to complete its 5-year term. This is good for democracy and this is good for him as well.
All political parties should sit and operate in Balochistan to focus on their problems. We can still win hearts and minds of our angry brothers.
PPP and PMLN and PMLQ ar eall the different faces of the same coins... They are all the bearers of status quo...
PTI must win and maybe we will have a chance, or bye bye Pakistan.
I suppose it was pretty decent on his part to not participate in the elections whose pre-polled rigging is a known fact now. He has every right to debunk scams and make the public aware.
I cannot resist in putting my views in this particular news that Imran Khan has said that “if the government was truly democratic, it would have held elections”.
I want to ask one question to Imran Khan that had he would have been in the government, he would have had the same opinion?
Though Imran Khan seems to be alright upfront, but still the nation cannot blindly support him, keeping in view of his double standard policy like any other politician of the country.
@Abdul: Well Mr khan has no authority to decide whether the elections were democratic or not, as he didnt participated and he should go to SC not to press media
45% votes were bogus as declared by ECP and SC, but no other party is concerned about that since the bogus votes are their comfort zone. We are with you Sir Imran khan and PTI
@Colonel: because the elections were due to NRO and not truely a democratic elections!
Why MR. Khan? according to democracy and constitution states that Gov. Should complete its 5years term