The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has begun to move into the heartland areas of Punjab where its threat is perhaps most strongly felt by the PML-N, which has held dominance over these regions for many years now. The rally led by Imran Khan in the industrial town of Sialkot on March 23 appears again to have been attended by a large number of youth. Young people in the country quite desperately want change; this much is obvious. Many see Imran and his party as the only force which can in fact bring about this change.
But thinking more rationally and with greater maturity, is this really the case? Imran said little that was new at the rally, lashing out in usual fashion at the corruption of the PPP and at the PML-N. He argued that distributing laptop computers to young people would not win them over and that what the country needed most of all was better governance and a greater willingness to act in favour of the people. The party’s chief is, of course, quite correct in this. But the problem is that he does not explain how he plans to deliver on this vision and what strategies he will employ to bring under check the huge difficulties we face. This implies that what he says is really little more than the rhetoric we hear so often from others. While the rally in Sialkot, like others before it, was a success, the PTI will need to present some definite agenda for the electorate if it is to pose a true challenge to the parties which have dominated the admittedly-sombre political landscape in the country. We do not yet know if the people turning out at the party’s rallies will transform into actual votes in the final run-up to the elections.
The old ghost of the ISI also emerged with the PTI leaders making it a point to deny any involvement by the agency. But, of course, words are not always believed. The ISI tag seems to be stuck with the PTI, and while it clearly challenges the PML-N in the home province of Nawaz Sharif, it is yet to be seen how people will finally interpret what the party stands for. That said, one thing seems clear for now — despite detractors and critics, it seems to be gaining ground, especially among younger Pakistanis.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2012.
COMMENTS (30)
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my answer to the writer is if u want to know IK,s or PTI,s agenda ..plz watch seminor A SOLUTION TO ENERGY CRISES ... on PTI,s website ..... bro you will get ur ans .... a clear and workable plan was presented by jahangir tareen to end the power shortage in just 2 years .... now .... one thing i m unable to understand is k inspite of knowing the performance of current rulling parties ... why our columnists are continously trying to convince pakistanies that they should not trust what pti is claiming .... its a humble request to the writer plz watch the 40 mints video on pti website and then if u get ur ans plz tell ur reader the truth ..... its ur moral obligation as aap ne Allah ko jawab zarur dena ha k for what u used ur pen ....tnx
The writer here and at other websites and newspapers have asked the same thing of Imran Khan. Does he have an agenda? does we know if he can deliver? Well my question to you all is does our present govt ever had an agenda to start with? they dont even have a current running agenda Nobody likes to question the govt but you all would come to Imran Khan's throat if hes not presenting an agenda.come on guys like some guy above mentioned its not rocket science to fix Pakistan's Problems, like one of the things Imran khan mentioned recently pertaining to law and order- he said to raise the salaries of our policemen that will cut down on bribes improve the overall crime situation in our rural and urban centers now tell me is this NOT an agenda? it definitely is. It's just the way you comprehend things. There are alot of things in his speech which will be molded to form an agenda. He's giving us the bullet points...and if you are half as wise as most of the youth in our country, you will figure out what he means. Now lets give him a chance and let's bring about a positive change in our beloved country oh btw these tech savy tweeplers and facebookers will definitely vote in this upcoming election- mark my words!! Imran Khan Zindabad. Pakistan Zindabad. Youth of Pakistan Zindabad!
Editorial is very much right and factual. PTI leadership must come up with the agenda. Only rehotorics may bring Party into government but if they remain unable to deliver, nothing could save us and we will loose all the hopes. Mr. Khan is on right track as he intends to institutionalize PTI, hopefully the move will allow us to get rid of FAMILY Politics. Also they need to work on each and every crisis nation facing. It is wise to act like PPP Executives, if there is huge protest, simply order the machinery to solve it.. Please think before you come into government. Also well mentioned that Political Bribe in shape of Laptop and Benazir Income Support Program is not going to work for PML N and PPP respectively. Good Luck PTI
Imran Khan is Pakistan's next PM INSHALLAH.
Its DejaVu all over again- PTI can't hold a rally in Lahore on Sept 30- they were wrong. PTI can't hold as big of a rally like Lahore in Karachi- wrong again. PTI can't have electable- wrong one more time. PTI dont have any constitution- wrong one more time. PTI lost its Tsunami- wrong just like many other times. PTI opponents are simply in a "permanent state of denial". Those who attend the jalsa, votes for that party, anything different is ludicrous.
Punjab is home province of PTI as well.IK belong to mianwali and Lahore.
@Ch Allah Daad: First of all, Iran Siddiqui might be a famous columnist but not necessarily a neutral one. Secondly, thanks for trusting the young generation, which makes up more than 60% of your country's population. That is a sure fire way to inspire people!
For political parties winning elections and forming government is a very long and hard process. There is not one guarateed seat for PTI in whole country, but they have already started distributing sweets. As famous columnist (Irfan Siddique) has mentioned in his article that in 1970 elections, JI rallys were far bigger than PTI of 2012 but in elections it could win only 4 seats out of 153 candidates. He predicts similar results for PTI. JI workers are loyal and committed but PTI supporters, you need to provide these youngesters uniterrupted electricity and live cricket match on election day. You will not see them casting their votes.
People of Pakistan have suffered enough by giving chances to PPP and PML-N. and time has proven that these crooks are never going to change anything because, their so called leaders lack vision and will power to serve the nation. Imran Khan carries both of these qualities that,s why youth of Pakistan have complete faith in his promises. i do not need to know how he is going to change everything but, its the trust which makes me believe that he will bring change. the only thing we youth have to do is stand firmly behind our leader.
As soon as Imran Khan is elected as PM, I am moving my entire family back to Pakistan, after 90 days.
I wish and pray that the God give this time a sense of wisdom to All Urmanite facebook/twitter savy and middle –class youth and poor of my great country fellows to not chose MPN and PPP, who have taken our every thing form past 65-years, in oversees Pakistani have been treated like Afrcan rabbles ,,, God bless Pakistan
We will be very lucky if we get Imran in the form of a leader and very very lucky if he provide us clean water to drink, safe pavement to walk safe enough for me to return home with my wallet in my pocket and mobile phone in my hand , good education for my children ,electricity day and night, job for those who deserve on merit and qualification in the end good medical system for healthy Pakistan . we should give him five years to do all this and if he dont even then we will loose nothing because we have nothing to loose . God help those who help them selves.
You get majority by votes, PTI continues to run away from electoral process on one pretext or other. Na nau man tail ho gha, na Radha nachay ghi.
@Saada Dil Bandah: Well, being Pakistanis we are a Jaldbaz qaum. The Imran Khan has to wait for another elections to become a PM, First he has to win seats in Provincial and National assemblies with number which can make difference then he have to show what he says he can do and then in subsequent elections the "Game" will pick up. Neither he won cricket world cup overnight nor he will make difference in Politics overnight, Every body can shout a "BARRAK" but what is behind the BARRAK that matters. SOME BODY ALREADY RELATED HIM WITH REMARKS" GOOD LOOKING jAMAAT-E- ISLAMI.............one can wonder???? SO WAIT AND SEE..
@Saada Dil Bandah.........You and the likes of you fancied the same before Karachi and Lahore PTI Jalsas but the "twitter/facebook Savvies" disappointed you. Not learning from history, you are wishing the same for general elections but history will repeat itself.
@Khalid Aziz Chaudhary: First of all if you follow, he has already started giving plans. He has conducted a seminar on electricty.
And in case you dont get all the plans, you will vote for either PML-N or PPP since they dont claim and also dont have any plans right?
At long last a bit more balanced view in the article. Not sure how many of these writers actually have legitimate leadership experience themselves to even have the credibility to make any comments. Leaders give vision. Build a team which can execute on the vision. Leaders are ruthless in executing the vision through there team. Imran has done it time and time again without being in power. He has credibility which others unfortunately lack. I believe his recent announcement on membership drive and holding party elections will also be a game changer in Pakistan politics. Food for thought - inspite of all the criticism, furore, allegations, can someone comment why PTI is gaining continued grounds. I wish PML (N), PPP and all others realise that the trick to stop PTI success will not be achieved by stopping Media to show the right things, by continued allegations. The only way they can stop this change NOW is by realising that THEY NEED TO PERFORM WITH SINCERITY, BY BEING A ROLE MODEL LEADERSHIP AND PATRIOTISM. Unfortunately these concepts are alien to these parties, hence PTI will continue to rid high - Inshallah and will bring the much needed, anticipated change in the country.
ET is bent upon criticizing for the sake for criticism; what policies prey tell has PMLN given to fix this country?? But no one is asking these kind of questions either to PMLN or PPP, these questions are reserved only for PTI. Shame on this media.
The only objective thing out of this editorial is an admission that the rally was well attended. This in itself is a victory of sorts judging from the mood in general and of ET in particular that are writing obituaries for PTI for some time now. Some of the questions raised in the editorial are so cliched and paradoxical that I at times wonder how do the 'learned' journos look themselves in the mirror after writing them. Disagreement is welcomed but to say that he has not said anything new or different is mere mudslinging. I can understand him being bashed for being soft on Taliban or naive in claiming ending corruption in 90 days, but to say that he has not said anything different at all is appalling. Devolution of local governance system, uniformity of education system, talking peace with Taliban, Energy policy is out, grass root connection through party membership and then elections, elected office bearers choosing their candidates for provincial and national assembly seats, parliamentary board vetting the nomination of candidates to ensure compliance with PTI image and the list goes on. This is all new and different from the usual stuff we get from our political parties. It may not find favor with everyone but that is a perfectly normal. Not acknowledging all this happening is, sorry to say, unfair bordering on bias.
Please, for the umpteeth time, stop asking for some 'silver bullet' agenda or a 'grand plan' to be presented by the PTI. Pakistan's problems are not complicated, we just need good governence and removal of criminals from top posts in the country. That does not require a 'grand strategy', it requires will power!
Experienced Politician? Shahbaz Sharif is an experienced politician, He failed to counter DENGUE virus, he failed to announce online result of intermediate exam, he failed to control PIC issue. There should be a visionary leader instead of experienced leader and it is also worth mentioning they have experience of bad governance and this will ruin our country more.
@Shahmeer Khan: Its not about giving 3rd or 4th chance to PPP or PML-N. Its actually about IK, who has been making tall claims and playing to the gallery without coming up with concrete road map to end corruption in 90 days. We need the game plan, a thoroughly documented road map to glory. At least, I am not going to vote for PTI until I see all the plans in black n white. How IK ends corruption in 90 days? Uniform educational system for all-How? Justice to all- How and at what cost? What is PTI's policy regarding Hafiz Saeed, Mangal Bagh and other strategic assets of deep state? How IK is going to ensure supremecy of civilians over khakis? These are just a few questions to begin with. Any answers?
The change is near inshAllah.. PTI will sweep elections this time..all those who are saying Imran popularity will not translate into votes are living in a dream world.. he will break records inshAllah...u guys living in drawing rooms have no idea whats going on the ground.. my watch man is a big PTI fan and he is from a small village called dunyapur in south Punjab near Sindh..people are changing inshAllah and u will see in the coming elections
This column is not bad, i don't know, why some people critizise IK more than the present rulers even though he is never tried and tested. I don't really know why people object their own prosperity, Imran Khan in past has delivered whatever project he started. Everybodyelse have been tried and tested previously and they failed miserably. I believe in "God help those, who help themselves", but for my nation, i don't know , they going to do anything about it. In our case we want ALLAH(SWT) do every thing for us. I can asure you, nothing is going to happen until we try.
No political leader claims he is going to crush the poor and then sweeps into power. Everyone uses slogans. Its when they actually get there that people find out who really meant and who simply cashed in on empty slogans. My understanding is that a large proportion of PTI supporters do in fact believe that Imran will deliver on his promises and that is why the will vote for him!
@Saada Dil Bandah: Do you still want to give PML N a 3rd try or do you want to see PPP for the fourth time??
@Saada Dil Bandah: we can see the pain in your heart! you know that the game is over for n league. imran will get two wicket on one ball:)
how about repetition of same question and editorials again and again?
How Imran Khan going to deliver? there is no rocket science to fix the problems of Pakistan.. these are not out of this world? many countries have come of this why can't we? All we need it visionary leader and will to change.
Imran Khan has been untested, does logic dictate that we continue to work with those who have been tested (repeatedly) and failed (by miles)? Time and again our so called experienced politicians have disappointed us miserably. What I don't understand is why people criticize him without even giving him a chance. Do you have a better choice? Would you like to repeat the same cycle again? Even if Imran Khan delivers half of what he promises I think we will be on top of the world.