Conceding defeat: Imran says PTI will sit in opposition

Party to release white paper on rigging in Lahore and Karachi.


Owais Jafri/ali Usman May 12, 2013
“The biggest power of democracy is the opposition. We will show this country what a strong opposition is like,” says Imran Khan. PHOTO: FILE

MULTAN/ LAHORE: A white-paper will be issued by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against alleged rigging at some polling stations in Karachi and Punjab, announced PTI chief Imran Khan on Sunday.

“The white-paper will inform the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of the tactics used for rigging these polls so that the practice can be checked in future,” said Imran, who is recovering from back and head injuries after he fell off a fork-lift at a PTI public meeting in Lahore on May 7.

On his hospital bed, Imran’s spirits were high as he sought an angle of optimism in PTI’s defeat: “The biggest power of democracy is the opposition. We will show this country what a strong opposition is like.”

With the PTI emerging as one of the top parties, and having won majority seats in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Imran said, “We will turn the government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa into a model government.”

“The gloom of defeat has not affected me as I have witnessed the unprecedented zeal and fervour of the youth and women in this country.”

The ‘core’ reason

The extra hour for polling allowed by the ECP is the core reason of PTI’s defeat, said PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Discussions regarding allegations of rigging will take place at the party-level, after which the party will make a complaint to the poll body, he said.

As lack of timely arrangements had delayed the polling process at several polling stations in the country, the ECP had extended the countrywide polling deadline by an hour. Polling stations in seven Karachi constituencies were given an extension of three hours.

Qureshi’s stance towards PTI’s defeat was similar to Imran’s. He said PTI accepts the people’s mandate and will sit in the opposition. “We will be the toughest and most disciplined opposition in the history of this country – and not a friendly one like PML-N.”

About the independent candidates, Qureshi said PTI is an ideal party for them as it has proved to be the icon of change through its policies and ideology. “Independent candidates should not opt for power, luxuries and nepotism.”

Furthermore, the PTI leader appreciated Jamshed Dasti, saying that he broke the status quo dominated by feudal lords in Muzaffargarh by securing two National Assembly seats.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2013.

COMMENTS (20)

Hisham Idris | 10 years ago | Reply

Quit politics and play cricket.

anees | 10 years ago | Reply

If PTI played a positive rule of real opposition then it will help PTI for future success also

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