The appointment of a new prime minister, following Yousaf Raza Gilani’s disqualification, will not change the course of national politics, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman said on Thursday, while calling for free and fair elections.
“The new prime minister will be another manservant of [President Asif Ali] Zardari, planted just to protect his property of Rs6 billion in the Swiss banks,” said Imran Khan upon his arrival at Karachi Airport.
Over the years, the PTI chief says, political parties have failed to deliver.
“The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has been in power five times but if you ask the people of Punjab, they believe the government of [former president Pervez Musharraf] was better.”
However, according to Imran, the fall of Gilani is a landmark in the country’s history and a decision that the masses should rejoice in.
“In the past, only the poor and weak were tried in our courts, but this event has changed the course of history,” he said.
Imran denounced the attack on the Karachi protest that his party had organised in favour of the judiciary. “It was Pakistan Peoples Party’s attack on our peaceful protesters that we strongly condemn,” he said.
Imran is in Sindh for a three-day visit to address a rally in Hyderabad today and to “interact with local Sindhis”. The party chief will start his campaign from Hyderabad, moving on to Sanghar and then back to Karachi for fund-raising activities continuing till June 24.
Hyderabad jalsa
Following its show of strength in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the PTI is now eyeing rural Sindh. The rally in Hyderabad will be Imran’s first on-the-ground visit to Sindh after the party rose to considerable fame, and in many respects, the PTI’s first serious attempt at winning votes in the province.
“PTI has come to make relations with the ordinary people of Sindh and not with the elected Pharaohs,” Khan said, while addressing a banquet organised by the Sindh Taraqi Pasand party at the STP House Wednesday night.
“The injustice done to the poor and weak people in Sindh is not seen in any other province of Pakistan,” Khan said
Organisers claim that 25,000 chairs have been arranged at the SRTC ground.
For observers, the PTI has scarce support in the province to count on. Unlike heavyweights such as PTI leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Javed Hashmi from Punjab, there are no significant leaders who have joined the PTI from Sindh.
However, PTI President Sindh Sardar Nadir Leghari said there is immense hope that the people of Sindh are as much in need of an alternative as those in other parts of the country. The party is trying to attract nationalist leaders to fill in the gaps, he added.
According to Leghari, Khan’s visit is going to add immense value to the campaign in Sindh.
The provincial president further said that the PTI has also initiated the Insaf Sindh Yakjehti Forum, a platform to discuss and identify core issues in Sindh, which will engage people with the party and help leaders visualise problems that face the province.
WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY Z ALI IN HYDERABAD
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2012.
COMMENTS (41)
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@Naz Sahito.: Every Pakistani has been requested to participate in building a national government which is one Nation. Perhaps you should listen to his speech once again to convince yourself. It has been posted on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVKSE25uS9g
@Naeem: Your request to elaborate see on youtube link Imran Khan speech at PTI Hyderabad Tsunami (June 22_ 2012) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVKSE25uS9g
@Hasan: Seems as though Pakistanis simply have taken enough from the present government and direly need CHANGE. The basic needs of Pakistan such as electricity aren't met with. Yet you expect them to keep up with the Pakistani Constitution with several amendments made at the whim of each government in power?
@Pakistani: How can you expect him to do such a superhuman task before being elected into office? But as you seem to be in a hurry, I suggest you put up Solar Panels on your roof and get GREEN energy without having to wait..
@Saadia: It is Pakistan's Citizens electing and not CIA... and they've seen what their favoured supporters did in terms of fighting terrorism, infact they even enhaced terrorism!
it means no space for independent opinion ,My comment On Pti Hyderabad Jalsa , not being shared,I t was a fair commentn perhaps u need favour FR IK
Message was clear that there is no place for Sindh n Sindhis IN Imran Khans politics .At his Hyderabad public gathering he didnt clarified his policy on Sindh Specific issues< Sindh opposes Kalla BAgh Dam , he remained Silent , Sindh demands Right of ownership on its natural resources , he uttered nt a single word . A major demand in Sindh is no to more colonisation of aliens In land IK , kept mum, Wts his stance No voting right for illegal immigrants nand settlers in Sindh , Even on hYderabad Stage there was not a single Sindhi speaking PTI leader among speakers more over stage was dominated by Pashto Songs, singers were brought from LAhore and Islamabad ,Majority of the crowd was brought from site Areas of Kotri and Hyderabad , notorious for not hiring local people , That was why AZam KHan sawati spoke in pashto ,<<<so message was clear no place for Sindh in PTI.
@Naeem: Many actors will look more cool than him so they should claim to be the next Pak leaders?
@s.ahmad: By the money of people what amount he out, hard cash please let us know and thanks.
@Butt: Check on Internet in the country and out of the country and let every one know your honest result. You will be surprise the out come but find it yourself rather than ask say one this question.
@Salman: Kindly get ready for shock of your life, he claim what he is not and you all innocent people will blame him for your unjustfied trust. Blind trust is your problem and not listening an other, listen what every one says and then check, trust your own tested outcome of checking. God help us all.
For the first time, I'm actually disappointed in Imran. I speak from being a total independent before all you readers brush me with a PTI, PPP, Musharraf, PML brush. The supreme court does not have the power to remove a PM from office. It is parliament. For someone who keeps talking about upholding the constitution, should've said and supported the constitution rather than staying silent on an event that gives him a political advantage.
Musharraf's coup:Constitutional violation!!! SC & Chief Justice reaction to Musharraf: Constitutional violation!!! Removal of PM by an SC decision: Constitutional violation!!
I dont care which politcal party you love and which leader you love because of the way he talks, looks or acts. For the love of God, dont defend people, defend the constitution, KNOW the constitution, believe in principles not people!!!!!!!!!!!
As a deeply concerned Pakistani, I urge my fellow countrymen to take a step back and support the right cause, not that (seemingly) "right" people.
@Ch Allah Daad: "Imran should thank Zardari that he did not agree on Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, otherwise Imran’s so called Tsunami would have become histroy." Ch Sahib, What is that supposed to mean or imply??? Can you elaborate?
Imran should thank Zardari that he did not agree on Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, otherwise Imran's so called Tsunami would have become histroy.
On a lighter note..forget everything, IK looks cool in this pic :-)
IK please concentrate on your job of bringing electricity available everywhere in Pakistan at lowest rates in the region, we will highly appreciate that , Please tell us your plan how will you make that possible before elections ?So that I may decide that should I go for casting vote for the first time to elect an honest person .Thanks
A funny tussle for Pakistan to chose between 'Save Pakistan' and save 'Swiss Accounts'.
@ Butt Imran Khan does not have even a single penny outside Pakistan. In fact, the issue of foreign assets was actually highlighted by him.
I doubt he will win because elections in Pakistan are never transparent. Moreover, US wont let him get the seat as he is not CIA puppy.
@Ordinary Villager: ANP was a victim of ignorance. The level of debate has to rise in Pakistani Politics. You can't form a new party because two people have different favorite colors.
@Burger-class: Ever heard of Namal College? This college is made by Imran Khan and situated in a Village named "Rikhi" in Mianwali. So Imran had definitely seen a village and also had built a University college there.
Has IK any properties outside Pakistan?
Has Imran ever seen a village? 70% of pakistani population lives in villages. This class does not know the hardships of life.
Hyderabad will be huge. Festive atmosphere since last night at the jalsa gah. Huge numbers are coming from interior Sindh.
@Iram: Those claim to be destroyers will safe any thing? Check your wish please from whom you are expecting and what. God safe Pakistan from destroyers. Love you all.
@Ordinary Villager: agree with you.
Mr. Khan it would be a surprise if you manage to secure your own seat even. Keep dreaming!
Long live the PTI.
The only politician in Pakistan who has the guts to call a spade a spade. Is there anyone as fearless as this guy?
The dynamics of Hyderabad is a two way tussle between PPP and MQM due to ethnicities. No chance a third force can come in and gain a foot hold in Hyderabad which is a sad fact.
Imran Khan is the last hope for Pakistan. Next man in insha allah !!!
He is 100% right. Long Live PTI.
It was PML N that didn't accept Gilani the moment he was convicted while IK was playing 'wait and see'.
Now that Gilani is gone , IK making his usual bravado and bellicose comments .
Welcome to Imran Khan in our town. He will be received with big show and we hope all people of Sindh embrace change. Our hopes are thin with two corrupt parties that have looted public and taken the money abroad. All the best and most welcome.
The last ray of hope, IK.
If anyone remembers history then they know that ANP was not a nationalist ethnic party but a party for Left Wing Socialists in 1970s. My uncle was a Senior member in ANP in the past when people from Every walks of Life joined under their flag but there comes the time that it transforms itself into an Ethnic Party of Only one race and one language and all people including my uncle and all Balochs left that party because they were not Pakhtoon. Mark my words now that PTI is the new ANP in Pakistan and many of my friends who are in PTI are complaining about Peculiar issues within the party and in future we will see disintegration within this party and we will see a New Party like ANP and that will be PTI. For many of the people i will be the biggest stupid but I know what i am talking about.
Inshallah you will do good show up in Sind Hydraabad with the help of your current friend of political power Mqm. If start is compromise on what you claim then end will not be different. God help us all.