The rally was over a week ago but the dividends have only started to materialise. With manifestly popular support under its belt, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has set out to reap the political windfall from its October 30 gathering.
A PTI delegation will visit southern Punjab after Eid and hold talks with serving national and provincial assembly members and seasoned politicians regarding their induction into the party, PTI Punjab chapter President Ahsan Rashid told The Express Tribune.
Rashid, who will lead the delegation, said he would finalise talks with MNAs from various political parties. Among those who have expressed their desire to join forces with the party, or are willing to hold talks, are PML-Q MNA Raza Hayat Hiraj, five times MNA from Bahawalpur Makhdoom Ahmad Alam Anwar and PML-Q MPA Ata Muhammad Maneka. Rashid said he would meet all three in his upcoming trip to the region and finalise negotiations.
He added that he has a hectic schedule and would be negotiating with PML legislators as well, but refused to disclose their identities.
Maneka and the unification bloc
While neither Maneka nor Hiraj responded to this correspondent’s calls, sources say Maneka’s case is sketchy.
A close friend of former governor Mian Azhar, who recently joined the PTI, Maneka was a senior leader of PML-Q’s dissident faction, the Unification Bloc, in the Punjab Assembly and openly supported the PML-N government in the province. Differences, however, developed between Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Maneka over granting development funds for his constituency, sources say.
But if the PML-N gives him guaranteed tickets, a National Assembly seat for himself and a provincial assembly seat for his son, he might review his decision of joining the PTI, sources add.
Alliance with Tareen’s ‘Clean Party’
The PTI is not the only new kid on the bloc. PML-Functional MNA Jahangir Tareen’s “clean party,” announced six months ago, is also stepping up on the political front, albeit with much less fanfare than Imran Khan’s PTI.
Sources say Tareen contacted Imran on Sunday and assured his ‘full support’ to make room for both parties in the upcoming general elections.
“We will go for a joint political venture with PTI,” senior leader Ishaq Khakwani told The Express Tribune.
Stressing that clean party leaders will not “join” the PTI, Khakwani said the two parties could forge an alliance due to similarities in their objectives.
While there was no concrete decision on a formal alliance, PTI’s Information Secretary Umer Cheema said his party “welcomes all clean politicians, including Jahangir Tareen.” PTI’s spokesperson also confirmed Tareen’s links with the PTI and said he hoped to meet him during his visit to the region.
Some political analysts, however, dismiss Tareen’s initiative and say he’s an industrialist, not a politician.
An analyst from Bahawalpur said that Tareen is “the only member of his party.” Alleging that Tareen has “always won the seat with the support of his brother-in-law PML-F MPA Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood,” the analyst said he could “only join the PTI.”
PML-N senior leadership, however, has good relations with Mehmood, and he is likely to contest his next election on their ticket, well-placed sources told The Express Tribune.
Meanwhile, former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while talking to The Express Tribune, ruled out joining Tareen’s party but said he has not yet decided between the PTI and the PML-N. PML-Q MPA Sardar Mohsin Khan Leghari also said he was not joining Tareen’s party.
On the other hand, PML-Q’s like-minded faction, headed by Hamid Nasir Chattha and Khursheed Kasuri has expressed desire to form an alliance with the PTI.
(Read: Warning bells for the PML-N and the PPP)
With additional input by IRFAN GHAURI AND ZAHID GISHKORI in ISLAMABAD.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2011.
COMMENTS (37)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
its quite clear that Imran will do whatever it takes to win seats as
all political orphans gladly welcomed by Imran not critising MQM/Choudries anymore happy with tag of army's stoogeand the worst bit is his supporters are like supporters of other parties, untill yesterday they were shouting CHANGE and INQILAB and today they are defending him when all turncoats/political orphans are about to join hands with Imran
this is the core problem of Pakistani political system supporters will defend their leaders like they are Gods
imo PTI is just like any another party which is trying to come to power using the same old tactics but with the slogan of CHANGE
Well as long as he's not caught wooing the ladies....honestly worry sometimes that this born again hypocritical religious act and the hard work done to cultivate these political contacts and movement may get jeopardized or undone by some scandalous affair...
people change their affiliations. In the absence of choices, people make affiliations. Now, Ik is on the menu and its a new fresh choice. Like many of us, who now see hope in IK, there can be many political 'electibles; who may see a ray of hope in IK.
we are using terms like turncoats without knowing what that means.
closing yourself to other Pakisanis is not the way forward. you are preaching change Pakistan. It will come by chnaging Pakistanis. On ePakistani at a time. If you close doors, for other who want to join you, just think where it will take you.
Ask your parents who they supported before there was IK. My parents voted N. Now my entire family is looking to vote IK. does that mean they are turncoats. Should I close my doors to them.
Please learn to welcome every Pakistani. Remember, changing Pakistan is all about changing Pakistanis. When they change, they will come and join IK. Please make it sure that when they want to change, they find our door open. Lets welcome them with open arms.
IK should come in power first...lota / old faces ..wotever...Pakistan mei bookish siasat ki baaten he ho sakten hein.....wind is towards IK ...birds wil come and sit....PTI needs numbers...lota r old faces wotever PTI needs electables now time will come when electables will need PTI...once u have number u can excute ur plans otherwise again in the wilderness....grab numbers...then filter once in power...jahan masjid k bahit jootey nai bachtey wahan booksih siasat ki baaten..relax ppl.
People do the right thing when in the right environment. When I am in Dubai or USA or Europe, I don't break any traffic rules even if it is the dead of night without a soul in sight. . In Pakistan . . . well, if I don't, someone is going bump my car or worse. . Also, people repent and change . . . heard the one about the atheist on his death bed who had hung a sign over his bed all his life saying:
GOD IS NOWHERE . . Well, he changed it to the following in his final days . . . GOD IS NOW-HERE . . People, we have to create that environment here . . . it is called accountability and transparency. . Pakistan, it is time to welcome you to the real world, the world where every citizen has duties and rights and all are accountable regardless of who they are . . . that includes Mr Immunity :)
@old script & new actor: Prophat (P.B.U.H) said the best among muslims is the one who fogives. yes it is true that JTI & JI forced imran khan out of punjab university, but he forgive all of them. And now after 4 years ISF ( Insaf Student Federation ) is not only the biggest student federation in punjab university but all over pakistan. who won bro. Say whatever u can but u cant make a fight between PTI & JI.
@rashid: Don't expect miracles.., it is same old same old...
@Lahori: There are always examples. How many of MQM MNAs Or MPAs are turncoats? None... I don't even know the name of the person representing us... All we know is he was on MQM ticket and we voted for it. Problem is you all in Punjab are feudalist whether you are a landowner or not..... So you need big names to represent and you will never entertain a commoner. If I am wrong prove it by voting a person you don't know... All you know is he represents the party closest to you. I can bet you won't....so revolution.... Dream on....
if PTI is going to let the Jamal Leghari join the PTI,i will not vote for PTI anymore because these are families who have kept us their slaves for centuries.They are political orphans only as they cannot join PPP and PMLN.
If PTI does not welcome any old face then the critics, in fact even a lot of PTI supporters, say PTI does not have any winning candidates, there is no body but IK in PTI etc. If they welcome any old face "but with better reputation" then we say they are are not doing any thing different...
I say let PTI breathe and under the leadership of IK give PTI a chance, unless you wanna try red revolution
How different would the PTI be when it has the same old lota's? If the same old corrupt politicians & jagirs join PTI, voting for PPP, PML-N or PMQ would be the same as voting to PTI!
To all who are complaining re bringing old faces…
Pls be practical. Yes there must be a fresh breed in politics, but remember a great majority of us never even took part in any kind of politics. I agree that IK must fill this vaccumm but he may have to rely on some of the old faces. We should put IK on stand if any of the old people he selects have any corruption allegations. Everyone talks about Mahmood Rashid, Azhar Mahmood and others who joined PTI being lotas, but no one indicated if they were any corruptions charges/allegations against any one of them. So yes, this is not an ideal situation, but you can’t do a clean up without having your hands dirty. Plus, still a great majority questions why there are no “KNOWN” and WINNING HORSES” in his team. See the contradiction in this arugment!
Imran khan is not a beacon of revolution required for Pakistan but he is mobilizing lot many people who are disillusioned with performance of PPP and Muslim League. He is also pushing for clean politics whether he has clean stuff or not with him; this drive will be good as positive externality, and motion will be picked up by the people and other political groups. Do not expect much from him. He probably has less potential to bring forth a relatively visionary cadre.
And I thought PTI claims to CHANGE the political system. Thanks to express tribune report which exposed PTI's prospective hand into typical politics.
No high expectations from Imran Khan's party. Another Q-League emerging.
Come on Sir.... A person who kept silent when JTI and JI terrorists kicked him out of Punjabi university. He could not say a word against them. What change can he bring for people of pakistan? He can not bring a change for student of panjab university.
Where is the revolutionary zia ur rehman?
People you need to understand that if PTI wants to "win" the election or even have a considerable impact in the next elections the same is not going to be possible with all new faces.. He is going to need support from the old horses as well however, i do agree that Imran Khan will have to be extremely careful in selecting his people.. A little here and there could cost him everything..
Who can forget Jehangir Tareen's great struggle for the rights of farmers against sugar mill owners. And PML-Q joined Musharraf only to bring change. These are not opportunist lotas.
PTI will need 1400 candidates (272 MNA,s & 1100 MPA,s) for all seats in pakistan. In a country like pakistan where everybody from top to bottom is corrupt, it will be difficult to find 1400 new & corruption free faces in every constituency of pakistan, so there is no harm if some of the old clean & corruption free politicians want to join PTI. Angels will not come from sky, we have to choose it from pakistan.
PTI need a combination of Old and new and I think it is a good decision because as far as reputation is concern theses old politicians are not considered to be corrupt.
PTI need to move sensibly rather too emotional.
Imran make sure you dont allow any rotten apple into your party else they will spoil the whole basket.Make sure they declare their assets before they join your party . These professional politicians will never change there habits and you will sink before you start swimming . Be very careful in who you take into your party.
@Ch Allah Daad: its the leadership that counts. an honest leader will force the followers to fall into the line. also there are no angels in politics or in society. are you sure you have never committed a folly on expense of fellw human. problem with us is that we want our leaders to be amgels but are more like devil in our own charecters.
Is PTI looking for Lotas and well known turncoats?
N they are not still not members of PTI and hopefully never will be unless the qualify for it. Why are we so skeptical about PTI. we should also keep in mind that PTI can't chose angels from the heavens they have chose they men which by the way all aren't flawless.@Nadir:
PTI- a political party or a laundry shop to cleanse the dirty linen of pro-establishmet stooges of the past? Immi bhai, what a wonderful strategy? Youth of Pakistan will really reject these googlies from you. Better behave like a fast bowler and concentrate on your bouncers, yorkers and in-swings in stead of using deceptive googlies. If you could win world cup with a team of youngsters why can't you win an election with the help of a new team? Don't try to impose the same "match fixers" on us again in the name of "political expediency".
PTI welcomes all clean politicians, 'all politicians' being the lotas of pmlq. How long before they ditch the PTI in favor of another party? PTI should think long and hard about how easy it is to manipulate such people, and how far they are willing to go for captain saahib. Where will their loyalties lie when the going gets tough for the PTI.
@Yasir Mehmood:Yasir Mehmood: If these old fogies enter the PTI the age-old game of musical chairs and banal, village politics will continue. In fact it will be a continuity of the 'old game' with new faces and turgid cabinets. Indeed the PML N and the PPP will have trepidation and a cause for concern, but dont expect anything spectacular.
Yes indeed, Imran's entry into the mainstream politics is a 'sonic boom' but with old fogies making a foray into the PTI raises questions of their monetary credentials. That's a feeling.
Salams to Pakistan
IK is entering electoral politics.... Wait and see he will be no Ana Hazaray the whole nation expects him to be. If he wins it's now clear the hidden and is in full consort
It would be great if people like you could bring enough fo a revolution by changing the minds of the rural populace which is the major voter. In order for him to get the PM seat, he will have to make some tough choice. Lets have trust in him.@Nadir:
@ Ch Allah Daad
Although I am no ardent supporter of Imran Khan, I would like to differ with you.
If Imran khan wants to bring some sort of a change in this unfortunate country he has to come in power. Only then he will be able to implement his agenda.
Now there are two ways to get power. One is a bloody revolution and majority of Pakistanis are not willing or comfortable to go with this option. The other way is to play by the existing rules of the game and try to win it. For that, he has to indulge in conventional politics and make sure he wins enough seats to get himself to the top position.
Now to do well in rural constituencies in Pakistan he needs the support of these well entrenched local politicians. Most of them are too bad but some of them are bearable. I see IK targeting the latter. Although they are not exemplary candidates or revolutionaries per se but they are not the worst of the lot either.For Instance I know Jahangir Tareen's history and his philanthropic work in education in his rural constituency.You can google on that. He is well educated too.
And these politicians know fully well what they are signing up for by joining IK. So hopefully their performance would be a lot better under an honest leadership. They would know that if they don't mend their ways there will be consequences.
IK has just returned from China and he must have come to know that the CPC has prosecuted more than 100 of its ministers in recent past on charges of corruption. Hopefully he would be able to replicate that in Pakistan if things do go wrong
Another Q league in the making. Mian Azhar (Q league's first chairman) first and now these. No guesses on who is manipulating things behind the scene!
@Allah Dad. This election we will have to bear the old yet clean faces, IK could only replace in due time, over the next decade or so. Just give him a chance, what other option we have.
Very bad strategy..instead of fielding fresh canditates in future elections, PTI is counting on old horses. Is this the revolution or Lota hunt?
Imran khan come to Hazara we will wellcome you man we r with u...
what! So all these MPAs and MNAs are now not feudal? they are not family based politics? they have all declared their assets? they dont have any corruption charges against them?