Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday called the defeat of Makhdoom Javed Hashmi in the Multan by-elections ‘a lesson’ for both the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and said that the ‘friendly politics’ of the two parties has backfired.
Hashmi, who had full backing of the PML-N, lost to Amir Dogar, who enjoyed the support of PTI’s Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, in Thursday’s by-election on NA-149 which was described by political pundits as a virtual contest between the PML-N and PTI.
“The surety bond of the PPP candidate for Multan by-election was confiscated, simply because the party chose to play friendly opposition to please Nawaz Sharif’s government,” the PTI chairman said while addressing a massive public gathering in Sargodha – a district considered a stronghold of the PML-N.
“You both [PML-N and PPP] have cut a clandestine deal to take turns [in power], but the masses have rejected this,” the PTI chief added.
Predicting general elections next year, Imran urged the nation to prepare for ousting ‘looters and plunderers’ from the country. “The time has come to bring in a government which believes in transparency, fair-play and justice, and which will steer the country out of poverty, unemployment and lawlessness and put it on the path to prosperity and progress,” he said.
“Those who used to say that there are only two political parties in Pakistan will see the PTI emerging as the single largest party in the next elections,” he added. In a sharp rejoinder to Prime Minister Nawaz’s jibe about ‘Naya Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’, Imran challenged the PML-N to compare its performance in Punjab with his party’s performance in K-P.
“K-P is emerging as the new face of Pakistan… a place where there’s no political interference in the affairs of police or other institutions, and no lawmaker from the PTI or any other party can have relatives posted against high positions,” he said. “In Punjab, on the other hand, SHOs still cannot be appointed without a prior approval from Raiwind.”
The PTI chief added that soon, an accountability bureau in K-P would hold every corrupt official and politician accountable regardless of influence, “unlike NAB [National Accountability Bureau] which gives out clean chits to Nawaz and Zardari.”
“You [Nawaz] asked me to make a new K-P before Naya Pakistan. I want to tell you that it is in the making.”
Imran continued with his criticism of the PML-N and PPP leadership, and urged their workers to ask their leaders to disclose their assets and sources of income. “I’m addressing the workers of the PML-N and PPP,” he said. “If you are worried about the future of your children, hold your leaders accountable.”
“The Sharifs are ruling Pakistan but making huge investments in the UK, using wealth they stole from the people of Pakistan,” he said. The PTI chief added that the government was doling out funds for hundreds of thousands of tribesmen displaced by the North Waziristan operation without any audit.
The PTI chairman announced his party will hold a political rally in Gujrat next Friday. He also warned the PPP that he was coming to Larkana, the hometown of the Bhutto family, in November, and said he was sure that the Sindhis will turn out in large numbers. “I’m coming to Larkana on November 21,” he said, adding that “the Sindhis are fed up with the politics of the PPP.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 18th, 2014.
COMMENTS (14)
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@Asad Some times I really wonder what is the average IQ level of a PTI Supporter. Go read my comments again. PMLN in my opinion is in great shape and they have weathered the storm quite well by playing defense because the vote bank still stayed in tact. At the height of its popularity, PTI won it seat back with same margin. That means, while the resentment is there against PMLN government, it is management. They just need to prove their worth by completing the projects and run 2018 elections on the merits of their projects. Elections is not game that you play every 2 years. We tried that and look where we are! A government needs to complete tenure to have their policies and management worked out. On contrary, let me ask you this, if PTI is so popular, why cant they wait till 2018 and see what happens.
@H Chaudhry: If Shareefs also believed what you believe in they wouldn't have any problem calling for reelections/mid-term. They came swinging against forces but now when forces say jump, administration asks: how high? Only reason they caving in is because they know they don't have the same support in people what 2013 election's results reflected. I am not saying they have zero support but their 2/3rd majority was clearly bogus (IMO).
You do know IK that the election was conducted by the same election commission that you refuse to believe in.
Mirror shown to Hashmi + PM Nawaz in Multan if one truly realizes to be honest. Needless to Javed Hashmi when contested election in 2013 against PTI ticket had won with very thumping majority but the same Hashmi even with full support of PM Nawaz could not win the election gives rise to few questions. Javed Hashmi whom Imran Khan had bestowed the title of President of PIT but regretfully my beloved Imran was grossly mistaken to elevate him to such status which he did not deserve and the result is that the moment PM Nawaz lured him to quit PTI he did not waste even a second to switch over his loyalty and the result is that he defaced not only himself but PM Nawaz as well. This also proves that Hashmi has no personal say and he won last time using crutches of Imran and ever since he did not had those crutches any more he was defeated. This also proves that PM Nawaz has lost his image otherwise his unflinching support for Hashmi would have succeeded in election. Hashmi knowing the reality issued a premature statement saying that he will accept defeat otherwise a person with so long years political career cannot even think of defeat so early itself shows mirror to Hashmi + PM Nawaz. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi
@Punjab You are absolutely missing the point! Data shows us that the by election result is no different that 2013 election result thus leading me to believe the "Change" claimed is not there (yet). Since at the height of its popularity, the election percentage result is with in standard error, PMLN has actually weathered the storm really well. Their base is intact, PTI has taken over PPP vote and new vote. PMLN will have a great ground game when 2018 election will near. They have to deliver and bring projects forward which is happening at a great speed. You may disagree on the merits of projects but by 2017 all these projects will be complete that will be PMLN's calling card. Wait and see. Congrats on winning back your seat although Dogar WILL NOT Resign :)
@Asad@NYC The election science will tell you a different story. Here is at try. PTI and Imran is beating his drum for two months and claiming all he can about nation changed and this / that, however, election result show that same percentage as in 2013 elections. Regardless of election results, my point is that PMLN's vote bank is still in tact or has not lost as claimed by many. PTI has reached its climax if you will, that is this is the height of popularity they can get before they started like broken record, which actually is happening now. For PMLN, its easy, they just need to play defense and up the ante about 15 months before 2018 elections after delivering something (roads, metro in ISB in Janauary, Sahiwal Coal plant, Bahawalpur Solar Plant, small scale Solar in central Punjab). You will see the difference. Again regardless of result, if you believe on what IK says the election result should have been like Dogar 80K votes and Hashmi 5-10K but that did not happen, thats all. You are free to believe what you may but PMLN is in a good shape. Their trump cards will come out when needed, they just need to perform and deliver which through lot of roads, power plants, etc will happen in 2017;
@H Chaudhry: Only PMLN supporter can come up with statistics and conclusion like you did.
PTI defeated Hashmi and whole PMLN; Dogar guy, who won the election, was not OFFICIALLY supported by PTI; In election 2013 the same guy was only able to receive 20K votes that was mere 12% (approx) of the total vote casted BUT Now the same guy got over 50% of the total vote casted.
Further know that many and many in PTI do not even like the guy and did not wasted their vote on him. So, PMLN needs to wake up and smell the coffee! GO NAWAZ GO GO PPP GO GO MQM GO
Having supported Doger the biggest land mafia man PTI has lost its credibility.
@ H Choudhry
Someone had alot of Nehari this morning....If you really want to do the data analysis then it means everyone and that includes PPP, PMLN and independents combined couldn't get as many votes as PTI backed candidate got....Hosh Karo...
@H Chaudhry: 40% of the people are still against? What are you on sir, the other-side has 60% and in every country where there is democracy it is called "landslide victory.
Yep Nihari had a foul taste so people spitted it out. (ET please let it publish it is the sentiment expressed in election.)
Imran Khan has paved his way through struggle and hard work. He has vision and mission. You have earn my vote
' New KP is in the making. ' Imran Khan if you claim this then it proves that all your claims and promises are huge lies.
If you look at numbers closely, Hashmi a candidate backed by PMLN lost by 14,000 votes to Dogar, a candidate backed by PTI. In 2013 elections PTI defeated PMLN on this seat by 10,000 votes. Thus a total swing of 4000 and a lower turn out. A data analyst or some one with election knowledge will tell you that this is a great news for PMLN. After a huge rally and 50 days of continuous bashing on PMLN, the result was same and loss by around same margin. I think the number crunchers in PMLN will be quite content with result.
Also people don’t forget that about 40,000 vote or about 40% of the vote was against PTI. This means that after all of the campaigning and Dharnas, 40% of the people of this seat are still unimpressed or in other words at the height of its popularity PTI is yet to convince these 40%, where as at depth of its popularity PMLN has fared very well. There is more upside for PMLN in 2018 elections.