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Upcoming party elections: Qureshi’s ‘nepotism’ irks PTI’s old guard
Javed Hashmi, Imran Khan express displeasure over vice chairman’s framework for regional committees.
Javed Hashmi, Imran Khan express displeasure over vice chairman’s framework for regional committees.
ISLAMABAD:
Tensions between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi appear to have reached a boiling point.
Senior party workers confided to The Express Tribune that Imran categorically rejected Qureshi’s proposed framework for party structures in Punjab and Khyber-Pakthunkhwa after PTI President Javed Hashmi and old party workers expressed serious reservations.
Qureshi had been assigned to form regional steering committees in the two provinces, a move that aimed to pave the way for holding fair party elections. In this regard, Imran has dissolved all the existing regional bodies of his party across K-P and Punjab.
A ruckus was raised by Hashmi, however, over the framework which appeared to give precedence to a majority of new party workers, all inducted from either the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) or Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).
“It will be unfair with the old guard of the party – they should not be ignored at all,” observed Hashmi during his meeting with Imran last week.
In response, Imran has established a supreme council consisting of Hashmi, Qureshi, Secretary General Dr Arif Alvi and Additional Secretary General Saifullah Niazi.
This council is to discuss the issues arising from the dissatisfaction of old party workers unhappy with the inclusion of new names in the regional steering committees. “Genuine resentment among senior party workers is growing,” observed a member of the council, adding that PTI Punjab President Ahsan Rasheed is amongst those who are resentful of the shakeup. “Old PTI workers think that certain party leadership who joined PTI after October 30 do not value old workers and are trying to promote their own (preferred) people,” said a senior leader.
“We will raise this issue in the meeting, arguing that the new faces now running party affairs will damage its good name,” he told The Express Tribune.
The party leader added that Hashmi’s role in the party will be significant in the coming days rather than Qureshi’s, as Hashmi enjoys full respect in the party.
Sources also said resentment has also risen in the rank and file because Qureshi wants to divide Punjab into two parts (south and north) by nominating provincial party presidents of his own choice. As a result, senior PTI leaders like Mian Yahya Shah Kakakhel, Mian Rahim Shah Kakakhel and Shahid Qazi left the party in a huff recently.
Imran, meanwhile, will take a decision about office bearers in Punjab and K-P after holding a rally in Quetta on April 20. Later this process will be initiated in Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
Imran has also replaced Sindh party president Naeemul Haque with Nadir Khan Leghari, who, according to party leaders, made no progress in Sindh. The decision, however, was taken through a nomination process, not an election.
Balochistan Senior Vice President Syed Zahoor Agha said those who are leaving the party are “opportunists.” However, he neither confirmed nor denied the difference of opinion among the party’s top leadership, nor denied the resentment among old party workers.
PTI Information Secretary Shafqat Mehmood, on the other hand, said Imran and Qureshi were on the “same page” when it comes to the formation of committees in Punjab and K-P.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 16th, 2012.
Correction: An earlier version of the article mistakenly labelled Nadir Khan Leghari as Naeemul Haq and incorrectly named the PTI Punjab president. The errors has been rectified.
Read more:
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Reader Comments (89)
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How is this a big deal? there are always disagreements in a political party. I never read ET reporting the major rift between Javed Hashmi and Nawaz Sharif when he was in PMLn.
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So much for Nepotism. Saifullah Niazi who is appointed a member of supreme council in PTI is a relative of Imran Khan Niazi sahib. Many party workers have been ignored by Imran Khan in appointment of Saifullah Khan Niazi as obviously family members comes first in politics. Even the additional post of Additional secretary was created for accommodating Saifullah and directly now he is a member of supreme council. Wah bhai wah. Also other members of supreme council are all from tested parties of Pakistan. So i dont see any change in so called slogan of change party PTI.
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This opportunist will poison the entire field, better if would never have been sown into PTI’s fields.
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Only the PTI is under the microscope. If it were the PPP/PML/MQM, one would expect whoever is nominated by Zaradari/Nawaz/Altaf ‘Bhai’ would get the ticket, no election, no selection, no debate. No other political party has shown more will to resolve issues democratically than PTI.
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The last para sums it up.
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Another one of those ‘imaginary’ PTI conflicts by ET?
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no problem, its always khan sb will, we never know when he speaking the truth, His present is always as trustful as he himself. he can anytime take his U turn. so keep it up.
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Healthy to see some sort of debate in the party. Unlike all other parties where one guy gives an order and everybody else say yessir.
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now we are not believing on rumours.pti is big party and their will be growing pain.
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here we go, now the reality has begun to set in.
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I love how ET fans conspiracy theories when it comes to PTI the conspiracy is from “unnamed sources” and the official PTI stand is way down in the end as an after thought I believe newspapers are reporting facts and not their version Of the truth!!!!
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we have blind trust on the leadership of our SAVIOR. Imran Khan is the best among all present politicians of Pakistan.
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Gentlemen of PTI, you sit on the cusp something whose sum is far greater that each individual. if you can deliver on even 10 percent of what you promise, history books will smile upon you and the teeming millions will pray for you. If you look after yourself, you will die rich and forgotten.
Do that which is best for your country. A great deal of hope and dreams depend on you.
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Hmmmm………. the pot seems to be filled now and boiling! lets see whats being cooked………..
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not a surprise .. lets look at it this way. Forming, storming, norming performing. Good Luck Team PTI. Qureshi is important for PTI.
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That is what will come out of the Kaptaan admitting old hands into the party. They might wear new clothes but inside they are just the same. I love PTI but I am not sure the flood of old faces is doing the party any good.
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Don’t be silly! Nation has high hopes from you PTI Seniors, be unite and fight for betterment of People, not for yourself.
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ET should i switch to some other newspaper? this is routine matter in all parties or even in families these are called natural differences and for heaven sake this should not be main heading on 9:40 AM …ohhh yes it should be because it gives negative image of whats going to be only truly democratic party of this country…please try harder coz its not working so far….I will still vote for PTI
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ET’s news stories normally have element of suspense and thrill, at times away from reality.
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if true, it only proves that no matter how big a fish you are, you cannot deviate from PTI’s vision, “hijack” the party, or dictate terms to IK. this is precisely the kind of material great leaders are made of.
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Thats a good thing that Imran khan has rejected the nepotism of SMQ . .
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Thats a good thing that IK has rejected the nepotism of SMQ . . . and ET shahid qazi have not left the party in a huff but they have done it a long time ago . . .
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qureshi should have joined pml-n;
in the strong presence or folllowership of hashmi he has been left alone.
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IK needs to settle these Party issues without being broadcast to the nation. They seem to show IK not able to control the influx and the influence of those who have joined PTI. If he cannot contain these fissures then people will question his claims and ability to manage PTI as well his capacity to run the country. This could damage his and PTI’s election chances.
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IK go with the old party workers who have stood by you for the last 15yrs .
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One has to wait to see another ET sensational news to fizzle out. In case not, still it establishes the fact that Imran can not be led astray or dictated and that democracy prevails in the party. So win win situation for PTI in either case.
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PTI always stood for merit and merit will prevail. We have full believe in our leader. Imran talks rational and rational will prevail eventually.
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No worries. PTI will only come out stronger from all of this. No man is bigger than the cause. Unlike democracy of status quo which is centred in raiwand/bilawal house/pm house/presidency, PTI’s democracy won’t be an eyewash.
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as expected from Qureshi…
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well…..another attempt by Qureshi to hostage party….thanks ET for exposing…
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@Jawad:
saif ullah niazi is the only guy who stood with Imran khan for the last 15 years , if u read Imran khan’s book , he also mentioned him in it . .he is like Javed hashmi of PTI . .
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this news doesnt make sense!
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@Jawad:
and the supreme council consists of 2 old and 2 new members . . .SMQ and JH are new to party and DR arif alvi and Saif ullah niazi are the old gaurd . . .
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This is all normal stuff that happens in every organization going through a process of growth, let alone a political party in a populous country like Pakistan. It is stupid to suggest that IK and SMQ have serious differences based on a rejection of IK of a request by SMQ related to organizational matters.
Also, it is hard to trust ET on this as their last “report” about SMQ leaving PTI and joining PML-N turned out to be untrue with SMQ very active within PTI and attending all meetings and jalsa’s recently.
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@jawad
Saifullah Niazi stayed loyal and committed to the party through its must difficult times, he has been a hard working party worker and deserves the position he has been assigned.
To deny him the post just because he is related to Imran Khan and would give people who look for an an excuse to criticize PTI to allege nepotism would be unfair to the guy.
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@Disco:
PTI is under the microscope because only PTI and JI claim to be democratic in their top position selections. PPP, MQM, PML, ANP are quite satisfied with the label of family based autocratic parties. In fact they contest elections on the basis of their family backgrounds. Even Bilawal has now the name Bhutto added to his surname to give an aura of legitimacy for his claim to the PPP throne.
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When ET writes something against PML N, PTI supporters chant “TSUNAMI COMING” and when they do this against PTI, ET gets biased then :) Good Luck ET.
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ET, I am going to unsubscribed all your groups I have joined on twitter and FB. You people are clearly biased. Its always Imran Khan who is under the scrutiny. I have never seen anything published by ET in support of so many great things IK has done over the years.
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@ 3footninja: You absolutely nailed it !!
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So me and my friends, we made a group of six people to do our semester’s final project. We have had disagreement, dissensions, confusions and what not. But our paper was a huge success. So, stop capitalizing on the prospects of disagreements in a political party. They are still better than the rest.
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ETTTTTT :D its all at ET to make it look so big under their custom built magnifying glass techniques to make an issue look mighty big. ET has a PTI cell i believe which has people from PML, MQM, PPP and ANP, bashing it all the year long!
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Democracy is nothing to do with PTI. In PTI youths are very emotional and I can’t see this party intact for long time. sooner are latter this party will perished.
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Imran Khan and his PTI are equally farcial. Wont be long before this directionless party and its naive barking leader are packed off by the Pakistani public.
While, people may call him 10 percent or 50 percent, Asif Zardari is the best PM by far. He is shrewd, articulate and very powerful. I have loved the way he has handled things with tact while also throwing punches at the ISI, Army and occasionally the judiciary.
Imran Khan talks too much.His rise would only mean Pakistan’s further sinking.Recommend
The old guards were sleeping for 15 years.
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PTI consider it’s biggest strength that many people from other parties are joining them but it is their biggest weakens . These people are from different thoughts and mostly were ignore by their parties . I think to mange these people is big task and i do not think imran has capability to do that . so soon we see set backs to PTI..
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Fine. PTI is going to through tough time. No need to worry…
Leadership skills of Imran Khan are on test now. And I am sure Imran will handle the situation very nicely. InshAllah.
Holding intra party elections is very gooooooood step. I think it will almost eradicate the problem.
Good Luck PTI for future and VOTE FOR PTI….
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I do not trust Shah Mahmood Qureshi.He will create problem in future.
Ms Ashfaque
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No one can beat ET in propagation
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Take it easy guys… i would be worried if there were no disagreements… it’s a natural process of integration.
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ET has been spreading rumors about the dissension in PTI. I remember that it ET, who first reported a rift between IK and SMQ 2 month earlier. They should first apologize for that fake report before posting any other rubbish about PTI
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FYI, Naeem ul Haq was replaced with Nadir Leghari, not the other way around as you have mentioned.
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Exactly! This is because of their own claim of being different, If he wants legitimacy of his ideals then he’ll have to come forward as genuine leader who is indiscrimate and honest to his nation, not to his inner circle. Just look at Saifullah Niazis’ induction. Qureshi shouldn’t be part of PTI because he is a disillusioned opportunist and eventually he’ll cause harm to the party.@Disco:
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this is the party level thing even if five person sit in a room they must have a conflict in views. So what’s a big deel, it is normal…………………..
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@Sarah:
Yeah, cause your project held the fate of 180 million people in its hands, right? It was probably a huge success because school projects are simple. Especially when there are 6 people doing the work.
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Just read the headline and rather than reading the whole article I am busy trying to find out who is ET funded by. Its tough to come to draw a conclusion at the moment as all parties are against PTI. All what ET does is magnify any differences that may occur during PTI meetings and publish as headlines. Too bad for them as other parties usually do not have such brain storming sessions, and since this is (party meetings) a new thing for the whole nation, I wouldn’t expect our people’s short-minded brains to understand it. Therefore, this headline, along with all the anti-PTI headlines, is nothing but a display of “pare likhe jahil” brains.
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And these PTI trolls are everywhere bashing every critic- All I have to say–> Get well soon Kids!
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well well well the writing was on the wall right from the word go, PTI basically is a bunch of opportunists/discarded people, the exit of ISI chief perhaps is the major setback when we look at the itinerary since no new “heavy weights” are being forced to join the party, best of luck skipper
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ET’s crystal ball does it again!
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What ELSE did PTI expect from someone like SM Qureshi??..
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There is a mistake in the article… nadir leghari replaced naeem ul haq … not the other way around… lol
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Good healthy debate…..at least it shows the SMQ is not hijacking the party like it was “predicted” some time back. PTI is the only political party where the leadership can be challanged. It’s not like PMLN where Nawaz says jump and everyone starts jumping in the hope that Nawaz will give them a pat on the head….
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@Iram: Blind trust?? you are also justifying the the blind trust of people who empowered the corrupt already.
@Disco:
It is under microscope because it claims (falsely) to be a different and clean political party than rest :)
@Muhammad Talha: “Only IK’s Will will dominate:)”
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No Problems KHAN will take care of it !! As he always Good at controlling his trops ..He even do not fear Dropping Unfit ones no matter how good they are …
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Tsunami has started to fade away
RecommendET stands for EXPRESS TURBINE of RUMOURS which is busy 24hrs generating them.
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heheheheheh…………….. this news should be on entertainment page because PTI is follow to Taliban and obviously Taliban are American agent so this entertainment is compulsory.
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saif ullah niazi is a precious asset of PTI who made it mobilize through out the world… he is not khan saib relatives… he from the first day join tehreek and is tehreek companion till now… v proud upon u saif ullah niazi
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@MarkH:
what sarah was trying to explain is that even a group of 5 6 people preparing for a semester exams can have difference of opinions, so a party who is trying to control the destiny of 180 million people is bound to have difference of opinion… it will be the collective wisdom that will prevail in accordance with the manifesto of the PTI…so dont worry about it… for now please focus on PPP, PML-Laptop and JUI(F) along with ANP and MQM because these are in power…focus on their corruption and their policies for the “betterment” of the nation… and keep your criticism of PTI for the day when they come to power :)
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Interesting! IK, it’s not Cricket but politics my friend.
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all made up story….i can tell you that Imran Khan and shah mahmood qureshi are working day in and day out for the party….a little difference of opinion is healthy but there is NO rift in the party. just ignore all this PTI supporters.
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@ Iram
What is the difference between you and PPP jialas then? They have “blind” faith and trust in their leadership as well, which is why our country is where it stands today. What difference would there be between “bhuttoism” and “Imranism”? Rather than having “blind” faith, one should always have an open mind; criticize the wrongs and praise the rights. Please do not make another Bhutto in Imran Khan. We have already suffered enough because of Bhuttoism. Criticize Imran so that he can learn and stand even taller! :)
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hainnn, So what is the big deal in it ? there should always lay a difference of opinon with in a political party and its a brave act people come and speak in PTI . get life buddies
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“..the framework which appeared to give precedence to a majority of new party workers, all inducted from either the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) or Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q)”.. and you did not report how and what exactly is that thing in the framework which “appears” to give precedence. Secondly, your heading included the word nepotism and i did not find anything related to that word in your news item..
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Even ET guys know what gets the highest number of comments. RUMOUR-making, especially about PTI. :)
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comon yar….headline…is there any accountability for u guys…wot happened to previous such headlines proven wrong…any toll for disinformation?
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ET v PTI Troll. Interesting Interesting.
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Hello All,
SMQ is a seasoned politician and for him and many others the credibility is top most priority. Having full faith in the leadership of IK and Hashmi, SMQ does not by anymeans fall behind them. He in fact is equal to IK when it comes to presence of mind. Let us please recognise SMQ wholeheartedly as a senior and profound politician. I am sure all these stories are surfacing to damage the party reputation. I am sure small and minor disagreements like these do not cause any harm to the strong relationship that SMQ and IK enjoy.
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For ET, everything is good in the corrupt and feudal parties of PML-N and PPP.
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a supreme council!!!!!!!!! —— party is getting there faster than anticipated —— let’s see who goes first the opportunists or the party itself!
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Things go where they are destined to go. PTI is destined to disintegrate and that too into many smaller factions.
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@Falcon:
learn to accept the parties weaknesses. its not made up of angels. there are opportunistic people and people with their own agendas. its amazing how naive PTI supporters are.
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come on ET. This does not suit ur standards.
After tying their best, all that the haters can come up with is to talk on old clashes between SMQ and JH. I mean come on for God sake, is that even worth mentioning? Recommend
@ahsan:
Dear it’s a scoop…it’s a true story. My uncle told me four days earlier. I’m also PTI voter….
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Air flowing out of PTI balloon faster then expected.
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I dont care about anyone, for me PTI means imran khan and as long as he is alive PTI is alive, it is all about imran khan.
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@ Jawad saifullah niazi is the oldest and most hardworking worker of the party!
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@MarkH ! Dude, first of all i study in the most competitive university of Pakistan, where semester’s final projects are anything but simple. Get over your contempt for others and try to think outside the box. What is up with you people having these utopian desires for flawless perfection in a relatively new political party that is up for something better than the rest.
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we have strong faith in IK.
come what may, we vote for him
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Always negative propaganda against PTI and Imran Khan … no matter what /media say and talk about PTI we will still support PTI …
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