PM Imran blames lack of contact with public for by-poll defeat

Premier also meets Chinese minister Song Tao and Balochistan CM Jam Kamal at PM Office


Our Correspondent October 15, 2018
Imran Khan. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said he was cognisant of a possible defeat on October 14, blaming lack of public contact for the by-poll results.

The premier chaired a meeting of ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Islamabad to review performance of the party's candidates in the elections, besides other pressing issues.

"Our engagement in the affairs of the government created a gap with the public contact, and the opposition took advantage of this," he was quoted as saying by the sources. "PTI leaders, known for mobilising masses, were engaged in ministerial affairs," he added.

On Sunday, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) managed to not only improve its position in the National Assembly by bagging four NA seats but also extended gains in the Punjab Assembly by securing five seat.

The PML-N had vacated only one of the 11 NA seats up for grabs in the by-election, whereas PTI had vacated six and the PML-Q vacated two seats. While elections on two NA seats – NA-103 and NA-60 – were postponed.

In today's meeting, PM Imran directed the PTI leaders to be in constant contact with the people through the media in order to propagate the party's narrative.

‘Glimpse into the future’: Nawaz lauds support from party workers

He directed the party's spokesperson to present the narrative on the media in an effective manner. He also asked the federal ministers to ensure that briefing to the leaders is delivered in an understandable way. All ministries, he added, should update their respective websites with information of development work being carried out in their constituencies.

Terming the October 14 by-elections as the 'most transparent', the premier claimed that the by-polls had been carried out without any government interference for the very first time in the country's history. Neither the federal nor the provincial governments interfered in the conduct of the polls, he maintained.

Premier Khan also met Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan at the PM Office and discussed overall situation and development projects in the province.

'All-weather strategic partners'

China’s Minister of International Development of the Communist Party of China, Song Tao also separately called on him at the Prime Minister's Office earlier today.

Prime Minister Imran said that his upcoming visit to China would provide an opportunity to underscore the importance of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

PML-N improves showing in NA, PA

Khan said Pakistan would like to learn from Chinese experience in poverty alleviation, fighting corruption and agriculture development through sharing expertise, technology and best practices in the sector. The China International Import Expo would provide an opportunity to the two sides to look into export possibilities from Pakistan to China, he added.

The premier said President Xi Jinping was a great statesman for whom there is much admiration in the people of Pakistan. He said President Xi's terming of China-Pakistan friendship as "iron brothers" reflected an undeniable reality.

Appreciating the growing relations between PTI and Communist Party of China (CPC), the prime minister emphasised on further enhancing these ties through exchange of delegations and sharing of ideas.

Minister Song Tao underscored the importance attached by the leadership and people of China to Pakistan-China relations. He assured China's support to Pakistan at all regional international fora, as well as in addressing the agenda of poverty alleviation, fighting corruption and agricultural development.

He termed China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative, which would make significant contributions towards building a new Pakistan.

With additional input from APP

COMMENTS (5)

Nasir Khan | 5 years ago | Reply It takes time to implement new govt policies. PTI still has the largest number of seats in NA, PA. The Mafia is finished.
Munaf | 5 years ago | Reply hi, nobody has released summarize party-wise results of by poll elections like, pti won n seats of national assembly, and n seats of provincial assembly etc. etc. this needs to have a conclusion of result to mention. regards
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