Political convention: PTI to test the waters in Sindh
Rallies to be held in Karachi, Sukkur and Hyderabad.
ISLAMABAD:
Fresh from the success of its crowd-pulling rally in Lahore, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has drawn up plans for a series of political rallies to test the waters in Sindh. However, this time around many in the political realm aren’t too optimistic about the turnout.
PTI chief Imran Khan is due to endorse the plan at the party’s central executive committee meeting in Islamabad, sometime after November 15, said party leaders.
“His party will flex its muscles at all costs in Karachi,” said PTI Sindh President Naeemul Haq. “We pin the same hopes on these rallies as we did in Lahore,” he added, saying that the rally will make its way from Mazar-e-Quaid on December 25.
Rallies will be held in Sukkur, Hyderabad, Larkana and Karachi with an objective to share their 10-point agenda titled “Sindh Sukkar” (Prosperous Sindh) with the ruling government and its allies in the province, he explained.
“The proposed agenda would include the party’s objective of uplifting the poor in Sindh,” Haq said, adding that the first rally would be led by Imran Khan and be held from Sukkur to Hyderabad.
“It will be a big political show against the PPP and its allies in Sindh,” he claimed.
The executive committee will also formally hand over responsibilities to its newest high-profile member, former Punjab governor and founding president of the PML-Q, Mian Muhammad Azhar, to manoeuvre voting in the coming elections within the Pakistan Muslim League-N, said a party leader.
“After Punjab, Sindh is our focal point for winning the support of young voters,” PTI Information Secretary Umer Cheema added.
Yet, others in the political realm weren’t too optimistic and sanguine about PTI’s ability to capitalise on its momentum in Sindh. “If PTI invites good musicians to attract the youth then some people might come out to attend its rallies in Sindh,” said Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon.
The minister added that the Sindh government will accommodate Imran’s supporters and provide facilities to hold peaceful rallies.
In sharp criticism of the former cricketer, Memon said that Imran should, however, make a final decision about his love-hate relationship with the military and establishment before holding rallies in Sindh.
Dr Ayesha Siddiqa, a political analyst, believed that the political temperature in Sindh was relatively different from Lahore. “Imran might manage to hold a good rally but it may not necessarily manoeuvre the vote bank,” she said.
Siddiqa felt that the PTI chief will hope to achieve a similar turnout in Sindh as he did in Lahore, but since ruling parties in Sindh were not in direct conflict with the military, such as the PML-N in Punjab, the rallies may not be as impactful in Karachi.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2011.
Fresh from the success of its crowd-pulling rally in Lahore, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has drawn up plans for a series of political rallies to test the waters in Sindh. However, this time around many in the political realm aren’t too optimistic about the turnout.
PTI chief Imran Khan is due to endorse the plan at the party’s central executive committee meeting in Islamabad, sometime after November 15, said party leaders.
“His party will flex its muscles at all costs in Karachi,” said PTI Sindh President Naeemul Haq. “We pin the same hopes on these rallies as we did in Lahore,” he added, saying that the rally will make its way from Mazar-e-Quaid on December 25.
Rallies will be held in Sukkur, Hyderabad, Larkana and Karachi with an objective to share their 10-point agenda titled “Sindh Sukkar” (Prosperous Sindh) with the ruling government and its allies in the province, he explained.
“The proposed agenda would include the party’s objective of uplifting the poor in Sindh,” Haq said, adding that the first rally would be led by Imran Khan and be held from Sukkur to Hyderabad.
“It will be a big political show against the PPP and its allies in Sindh,” he claimed.
The executive committee will also formally hand over responsibilities to its newest high-profile member, former Punjab governor and founding president of the PML-Q, Mian Muhammad Azhar, to manoeuvre voting in the coming elections within the Pakistan Muslim League-N, said a party leader.
“After Punjab, Sindh is our focal point for winning the support of young voters,” PTI Information Secretary Umer Cheema added.
Yet, others in the political realm weren’t too optimistic and sanguine about PTI’s ability to capitalise on its momentum in Sindh. “If PTI invites good musicians to attract the youth then some people might come out to attend its rallies in Sindh,” said Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon.
The minister added that the Sindh government will accommodate Imran’s supporters and provide facilities to hold peaceful rallies.
In sharp criticism of the former cricketer, Memon said that Imran should, however, make a final decision about his love-hate relationship with the military and establishment before holding rallies in Sindh.
Dr Ayesha Siddiqa, a political analyst, believed that the political temperature in Sindh was relatively different from Lahore. “Imran might manage to hold a good rally but it may not necessarily manoeuvre the vote bank,” she said.
Siddiqa felt that the PTI chief will hope to achieve a similar turnout in Sindh as he did in Lahore, but since ruling parties in Sindh were not in direct conflict with the military, such as the PML-N in Punjab, the rallies may not be as impactful in Karachi.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2011.