LAHORE: After staging a successful rally in Quetta, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Sunday that the party’s aim was to reach out to the people of Balochistan who are afraid to come out, fearing for their lives.
Speaking to the media in Lahore, Khan said that it was easier to talk to the leaders but he wanted to go to the crisis-stricken province and talk to the people directly.
“We were happy to see that people came out of their houses to become a part of the rally,” he said.
The PTI chief said that the politicians were not concerned about the people of Balochistan.
“PTI staged the first ever demonstration for missing persons back in 2003, you go and see our track record. We believe that this phenomenon is a violation of human rights.”
Khan further said that once talks with the people are done, his party will approach the nationalist leaders of Balochistan.
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Large crowds in Jalsas do no necessarily mean large votes in election. Our Rahul Gandhi draws large crowds but hardly that many votes. Public is very smart these days and knows whom to vote. Everyone knows how Islamic parties draw large crowds but not the votes. IK's fate might end up similar to our Rahul Gandhi.
We should support IK because all other politicians are corrupt. IK....you are our hope. Go ahead. We are with you.
@Ch Allah Daad: Where are you sir? You gave just two lines comments please give complete details of the Jalsa. PTI rocks.
@Farid Khan: if he is liked by the army being honest and straight forward is it harmful to you and the country,come on be mature now.
Arguments by the ppp and pmln are borderline insane. Check out your brains first before you comment.
Please invite AQ Khan in your party,those who talking against are told to do that,just to humiliate your own Mohsin in your eyes.Musharraf was fed,forced and blackmailed to take stupid action against him.
Success of IMRAN depends on his announcement of party manifesto and his team of think thanks should be known to people otherwise as today public meeting appearance/management and stages organisation/talking to media is just a fish market.Immaturity appears in show off from all and if it is a public demand then who will teach them now and when.MQM is too good it is managements.
Zaid Hamid is a joke. On a second note, great jalsa. IK Zindabad, Pakistan Zindabad.
He is army's spokeman...!
Zaid Hamid, hafeezsaeed, AQ khan & imran khan. The great patriots of Pakistan who will establish the calipha in Pakistan.
IK,
How about reaching out to "those" who are responsible for the abduction, torture and dumping the bodies of brave young Baloch?
Imran Khan hs been in the politics for the last 15 years or so. Why sudden awakening about Balochistan in 2012 when the entire world was aware of the killings had been going on in Balochistan since 1973, if not 1948?
The flamboyant turned politician may form next government but will be unpopular within ten days because he does not know the solutions to the problems faced by the country.
Imran khan is Pakistan's only hope...plz save Pakistan from becoming history..
Pakistan is divided on religious,sectarian and linguistics lines and there is so much hatred , intolerance amonst each other that it would be miraculous if Imran can bridge this divide and create pakistan as envisioned by Jinnah as a secular country where every pakistani is equal. Imran should stop using religion for attracting people because this policy of pandering to mullahs has failed the nation many times. Get rid of mullahs from your ranks if you want to succeed. Teach and train people to respect each other and respect for human rights.
IK keeps mum on sectraian and minorities killings. With so many extremists in his party affiliated with jamaat islami and using name of islam for politics I really wonder if he is capable of bringing any change in this country with full of hatred against each other in the name of religion, linguistic and other reasons. I hope he succeed but untill he somehow bring change in people attitude toward intolerance, hatred and respecting human rights he is doomed as other political leaders. He should dissociate himself from mullahs and stop using religion to attract people because using religion for bringing change has failed already. Only way forward is to work for pakistan as envisioned by Jinnah where religion has no role in matters of state and every pakistani is equal. Imran khan dont follow Maudoodis ideology which has failed many times and is bound to fail every time in pakistan. Maudoodi was against pakistan creation and Jinnah vision of pakistan.
Good going PTI - Engage the public and leaders. This is the only way out of the current deadlock.
People of Quetta Balochistan have welcomed PTI with open arms .All the best PTI
@Haris Chaudhry: which other politician has remotely made any effort? We have seen what this PPP has done to Pakistan, and the other option (Khaki pml-n), we all know what they are capable of And please stop criticizing just for the sake of it. You anti-khan pseudo intellectuals remotely make any sense.
ppp pmnl followers its over accept it lk will hunt gilani zardari to the ends of earth he will get justice which leader in the world will say no ik can look any mortal in the eye love you imran
@Haris Chaudhry:
“PTI staged the first ever demonstration for missing persons back in 2003, you go and see our track record. We believe that this phenomenon is a violation of human rights.”
i hope you re-read the article again... criticism for the sake of criticism... i wonder what is the purpose of politicians in power visiting camp of missing persons? instead of gimmickery they should help recover the missing persons...PTI is the only party which is not in power and hence it makes sense if they protest something but i cannot understand PML(Laptop), PPP or JUI(F) protesting... to whom they are protesting? i am at loss for words for those people who think anyone who criticize the ineffieciency of these ppp and pml(laptop) etc is pro-establishment... i request all those who are criticizing PTI that please answer just one question... is the present ruling elite capable of running pakistan for the next 5 years? if your answer is yes, then God help Pakistan...but if like any sane person your answer is no, then tell me what is the solution? i have never come across anybody who is criticizing IK but have provided any alternative solution... many people are sleeping and suddenly in the middle of the night they wake up and say oh what does PTI say about this issue...while all it take is a simple google search..you can find IK stance on anything on the net...
yes IK likes to wear golden chains.
So the Khan with the Father of IJI, Gen Gul in tow, wants to usher 'Democracy' in Balochistan.
I guess, now I have seen it all.
Better late than never --- but the term Missing In Action comes to mind.
Imran Khan is in politics for about two decades and he is contacting people now. Very quick response Mr. Khan..Should have waited another decade.
..Yes, contacting directly to the people is the right approach, those so called leaders have no real representation of the masses. I think fairly the people of Baluchistan prefer PTI over PPP and JUIF, and it’s a common sense as well ..
Mr.Khan, it is easy to talk when you're not in power. But when you are the ruling party, your decisions are not your own. You have a 500-pound gorilla that goes by the name of "Establishment" to deal with. The only way to solve the Balochistan issue is by first withdrawing the 'agencies'. But they will NEVER let it happen. Talk is cheap in Pakistan Mr.Khan !!
@Haris Chaudhry:
Your negative thinking wont take Pakistan anywhere. Learn to appreciate any positive development in the country where depression and frustrations are norm of the day.
And this is the drama, your anti establishment 'leaders' do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=playerembedded&v=w8seOzU330#! .
Please post this ET
When there was no media attention for the missing persons case, it was only imran khan who was at the forefront in protesting along with them: https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/5436072163425684786751694610265001633847731940949275_n.jpg . But hey at that time he was Taliban Khan for going to such a protest, and now when he himself hasnt gone, but party presence was made through Fauzia Kasuri: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=159036884134849 , http://www.supportimrankhan.org/news/Default.aspx?349 . . Imran Khan is 'establishment ka agent'...and khaki lover.
Commendable initiative - I would like to see action, have had enough rhetoric already.
Wondering why did you not travel by road - You are touring rest of the Pakistan by road but you went to Quetta by air. Looks like some body told you that road conditions in Balochistan are not comparable to the rest of Pakistan !!!
I would like you guys, PTI, to reach out beyond Quetta and Pishin i.e. Pashtoon belt. Looking forward to hear your plans to visit Mastung, Gawadar, Kech, Khuzdar, Kalat, Noshki, Zhob.
Some people are till criticizing him...One commenting on the top claims IK was not there in missing person camp, he perhaps couldn't read that PTI was the first who started these protests actually...I mean plzz think about Pakistan now & not about ur status quo masters... Imran Khan has done what no other politicians could do even while sitting in the government...
@Haris, I know it is painful for you to digest how come a man who was never in the reckoning is emerging as a front runner to lead this nation. Dont worry your pain will soon turn into misery when he takes the charge of this country. IK haters pity on u!
"The revolution will not be televised, will not be televised, will not be televised, will not be televised. The revolution will be no re-run brothers; The revolution will be LIVE."
IMRAN KHAN Please help us to gain our own identity which is almost shattered by the corrupt leaders.
The Pied Piper of Pakistan !!!!
How bankrupt we consider the balochs in leadership that they need Khans and Hashmis to lead them to green pastures, Mr Khan dont forget that Quetta,s population is mostly non balochs, go to Makran, Dera bugti, Marri areas if you want to take balochs into confidence.
luv u IK>...........u can unite the whole troubled nation, and bring to justice the ugly and pathetic political class that has embarrassed the nation for years.............
@Haris, keep your vote safe for PPP, PMLN and MQM, ANP
@Haris Chaudhry: Khan does not do photo sessions like other Pakistani leadership do. What other politicans photo session made any differnce?
Khan is doing everything pratical not JUST BY talking only. Recent his hugly successful Jalsa in Quetta Balochistan is a living proof that he is doing much better than other family politicans. He also went to see family of Hazara's whose loveones killed for condolence, support and solidarity.
Did any other leader have courage to do Jalsa in Balochistan openly? no. Did you see how Pakistan Zindabad slogans and Pakistani Flag were waved. This is a good message for the world as well as people who says Baloch are with Pakistan.
@Haris...haters gonna hate..no matter how bold and good initiative IK will take there are some people who are not going to digest any thing good done by PTI or IK..what a analysis of PTI rally in Quetta..If he was to be a opportunist then his real strength if KPK and Punjab..why taking a big risk and going to a city where not even government politicians dare to walk free...So the idea was to unite Pakistan...such a looser..
@Haris Chaudhry: What the what ? :D About Balochistan, you just need a bit of Google to know that Imran Khan was criticizing the Army years before, and concerning the missing persons PTI already protested in front of the Parliament - again - years before, and that's why Amna Janjua's favourite politician remains Imran Khan (see on Youtube.) In fact, you had to read this same article:
Imran Khan also met Baloch leaders like Talal Bugti or the Balochistan National Party way before the media began to go frenzy about it... "again", Google.
It’s indeed a very brave effort by the PTI, but it’s the first step towards confidence building, needs to be followed by some more steady efforts on solid grounds. Anyway well-done Mr. Khan
Imran Khan, Please take AQ also with you in Quetta Julsa...............
IK is our Only Hope
Quetta Jalsa was not PTI's Jalsa rather it was Pakistan's Jalsa. It was a tough test for PTI as well as Pakistan but in the end, it was a job well done. It was really heartening to hear Pakistan Zindabad & see waving Pakistan flags in Balochistan (where rulers' policies have made raising the national flag almost impossible). The solidarity visits of PTI leadership to the Hazara community augmented the feeling of PTI being a party for all. This makes PTI the only party that is approaching the people of Balochistan, instead of individuals. Thank God, Balochistan's politics & people are back in Pakistan (courtesy Imran Khan & PTI). PTI can very proudly claim now: "Chaaron Soobon ki Pehchaan, Imran Khan Imran Khan" p.s: For those who missed it, our blog has the full package of Quetta Jalsa (Pics, Speeches, Live Updates of the Jalsa)
Baluchistan is by and large a tribal society. Any change must be in keeping with its accepted norms and traditions. Having said that two words come to mind (which should be the case for all of Pakistan): EDUCATION and RULE of LAW (in other words no 'missing persons'- baqi app khud samajhdar hain). PTI has set the trend again- congrats
great initiative.well done IK
Khan was the only politician markedly absent when the missing persons relatives camped out in front of the parliament for over a week. Every major politician met the relatives and assured them of their support...
Khan-bandwagon has latched on to "balouchistan cause" too late and only after the media belatedly started shedding light on the atrocities being committed there.
Khan is no different than any other opportunistic politician trying to muster votes before an election and backed by populist sentiment.. The only difference for Kaptaan is that he has "khaki" written all over him :) which counts for a lot of support in this land of 180 million souls..
Haris