New strategy: PTI shifts its focus to national issues

Development visible after party’s defeat in NA-122 by-elections

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has seemingly come over its only concern – alleged rigging in 2013 general elections – as the party has started raising issues being faced by the masses and has started taking part in debates on performance of the government.

The shift, quite visible these days, came following the party’s defeat in the by-elections at the NA-122 constituency in Lahore where it had complained that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had resorted to rigging in May 2013 polls.

The PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi recently complained that the National Assembly speaker was turning a deaf ear to the business (legislative and other) proposed by the PTI members and that the party was not allocated an office at the Parliament House.

At the same time, Qureshi contacted Leader of Opposition Khursheed Shah and made an announcement that the party would diligently play its role as opposition. Fielding of a candidate in election for NA speaker, despite being cognizant of a certain defeat, was also a step in that direction.

Outside the parliament, PTI leader Asad Umer has led the party’s protest against recent price hike in prices of petroleum products and challenged government’s economic policies in debates and talk shows.

The PTI’s senators have asked the government several times about rates of LNG imported from Qatar and Umer has asked the PM to tell details about the deal.

The PTI’s information Secretary Naeemul Haq is seemingly keeping party’s stance about the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) alive.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2015.