The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is not done with head-hunting just yet. The party, which has seen a number of high-profile politicians join its ranks in recent weeks, is set to keep luring seasoned politicians to adopt its vision for change, The Express Tribune has learnt.
With rallies across the country and growing support from all realms of the political arena, the party is confident that it will be ready to compete against the incumbent government well ahead of the next general elections, an official told The Express Tribune.
“We have focused our attention towards the December 25 rally to be held in Karachi,” said an official of the party, hinting at the likelihood of former Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) MNA Marvi Memon announcing her decision to join the party.
In addition, the party has also been in contact with former foreign minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri from PML-Q, former Speaker of the National Assembly Hamid Nasir Chatta and former information minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, The Express Tribune learnt.
According to sources, Awami Muslim League(AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad has requested for a merger between AML and the PTI. However, a decision has not been taken in this regard, a party official told The Express Tribune.
“Perhaps PTI will not go for an alliance with any political party,” he added.
PTI is scheduled to hold a meeting of its core committee next week in which issues related to the recruitment of new candidates is to be discussed in detail.
“If someone joins PTI it does not mean he would be awarded a party ticket as well,” an official of the party said when asked whether PTI would be able to fulfill its commitment of recruiting only “clean politicians” at a time when it was mostly recruiting old faces. The official added that tickets would be awarded to those who would meet the criterion laid down by the party, he added.
Recent additions
In Lahore, former Punjab governor Mian Azhar who was discarded by Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) joined the PTI during a rally at Manto Park in October. The party received an additional push on November 27 when former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi joined its ranks in Ghotki after resigning from the National Assembly and his former party PPP.
Former Intelligence Bureau chief Masood Sharif Khattak, former district Nazim Malik Ghulam Abbas and former member National Assembly from PML-N Faiz Tamman from Chakwal also joined the PTI.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2011.
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Well the PTI is indeed in contacts with these people but why aren't they contacting the mainstream politicians of the PPP and PML-Q????I mean people like Amir muqam,Raza rabbani,Faisal hayat,Wasim sajjad,Tariq azeem and Neelofar Bakhtiar. Why aren't they approaching them???? Why aren't they doing so?? I fail to understand.Period.
Sheikh Rasheed is Great Man & Politician He should Join PTI.
I trust IK. Its the leader that matters. I am from Canada and I am paid PTI member. Never met IK but I trust him.
sheikh will not join him, there alliance will be formed after general elections
And this was the news published just a month ago......
LAHORE – Well-informed sources have asserted that the warmth demonstrated by PML-N Chief Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Awami Muslim League President Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, and other heart-warming mutual moves are indicative that these will pave way for Sheikh’s rejoining of the N-League.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/09-Oct-2011/Sh-Rashid-likely-to-join-PMLN
so those who already have concluded that PTI is rotten... please never trust the published news...that is how they play...understand the media and "status-Qou"
Dear PTI Supporters. Please do not worry about the old faces joining PTI. Believe & vote for Imran Khan only. When votting for PPP no body asked this question & everyone cast his/her vote to Bynazeer even She was not alive. Imran Khan cannot win election without these politicians. But the final policy maker will be honest enough to make Pakistan a brighter place to live....
@Adil: Whats the 'Vision' of Imran Khan? Explain it to me like am a five year old :) (yeah the movie dialogue , only if you've watched philapdelphia :p)
A little reality check for everyone. Till now, only about 38 old faces have joined PTI. Even if PTI awards tickets to ALL of them (which is yet to be seen), these will remain in a MINORITY considering the fact that PTI needs to award tickets to about 1000 candidates for National and Provincial Assemblies. A MINORITY (especially if it is only 10%) will be forced to stay within the law while being a assembly member from PTI and will not be able to influence or hijack the party agenda. So it is about LEADERSHIP, which IK keeps talking about. For PTI supporters, have TRUST on your leadership to handle the old faces and keep them in line while being in PTI. The time for criticism would be when they award tickets...
IK cannot stand alone & fight against rotten system. If clean people like Kursheed Mahmood Kasuri ,Hamid Nasar Chatta & Shaikh Rashid, who have never been involved in any corruption controversy, join PTI,they will be source of strength.Good luck to you Imran Khan!!!
@I quit PTI: Please dear grow up. Its a humble request. If you ever were PTI supporter you should trust Khan. This man never fix the match. Some ppl are criticizing these appointment, but we should support them considering the fact that if he has to be a major contender in the elections, Khan needs it. Keeping in mind that only 20% of the voters are educated and support Khan, remaining 80% voting is still done on “baradari” basis. And saying that these people failed to deliver the last time, well the problem was a leadership as Khan said himself, if a donkey is leading a herd of loins, they will all become donkeys and if a loin is leading a herd of donkeys, they will all become loin. We trust in Khan’s leadership and are looking forward to this era of Pakistani Politics!
Sh Rasheed is the biggest disgrace of Pakistan if he joins or inducted in Imran khan platoon , then no will will have to say . PTehreek-e-Isi, it will be obvious
@ i quit PTI: Thank GOD u r quitting .... u were such a hypocrite any way :D
Looser!!!
log aatey gaye aur karwaan bann gya ... imran khan will lead us to bright future inshAllah every pakistani including old politicians shud follow him under his leadership as he's the only hope nw.
It again proves that President Musharraf have made the Real Team, comprised with best available Pakistani Politicians. We miss you, Musharraf.
PTI will have to open arms to former foes if it wants to grow into a national contender. We do have serious reservations on former PPP, PMLQ or PMLN members.....but if the people of Multan will only elect Shah Mehmood Qureshi then who am I to disagree
Uptil now only 38 electables from other parties have joined pti. What's the big deal in it when pti has o field a 1000 candidates in next election.
Shaikh rasheed should join PTI. A great person
Inclusion of politicians like Shaikh Rashid or Marvi Menon will strengthen PTI and is not contrary to the image & ideals of PTI. PTI should encourage such inclusions however should avoid further fusion of feudals like SQM.
Imran need to understand how long can he continue to add water to milk before milk can no longer be termed milk.
I respect all of ur comments above, but People Plz be realistic parties and countries policies can't be run by local SABZI wala , u need intellectuality and experience though these all leaders doesn't have but u have to trust them .. A single man army can't run the whole country , if Imran khan is visionary and he got something for the betterment of this country he will Inshallah Pursue and make sure that all these leaders will follow what he wants.. Sheikh rasheed is certainly not a bad option , trust me , he is loyal to his country and he does have tendency to go along the prosperous route.. so plz don't be so pessimistic and start supporting those people who really deserve a chance to run this country ...
good going PTI- we are with you
Relax guys, Let the time tell, they haven't joined as yet!!!!! Marvi Memon though will be a good addition, she has been vocal against her party's policies even when she was part of them, one should go for the character of the person, at a certain point former political affiliations cease to matter May Pakistan Prosper!!!!!
When there were no any big name in PTI then they said that how can they run Pakistan with mummy daddies. When experience politicians are joining PTI then they say how can they bring change with old faces.
The same Sheikh Rashid to whose face Imran said on record (Capital Talk with Hamid Mir) - 'Khuda mujhay kabhi bhi Sheikh Rashid jaisa kamyab politician na banayay'??!!!
well done PTI .........You need good leaders of repute.........either old or young...........however the only criteria must be .............they are clean..........
Imran is of opinion that in urban areas new candidates will be filed however, from rural areas influentials will contest. Its fair in current scenario.
Sheikh Rashid will be a good addition
Is Kaptaan aware of the repercussions it might have on his popularity and our faith? Did we support him and attend his 30th October rally for this?
A lot of the masses are condemning these appointment, but i support them considering the fact that if he has to be a major contender in the elections, he needs it. Keeping in mind that only 20% of the voters are educated and support Khan, remaining 80% voting is still done on "baradari" basis. And saying that these people failed to deliver the last time, well the problem was a leadership as Khan said himself, if a donkey is leading a herd of loins, they will all become donkeys and if a loin is leading a herd of donkeys, they will all become loin. We trust in Khan's leadership and are looking forward to this era of Pakistani Politics!
I am supporter of PTI and establishment did not call me to support PTI.
I am sure that 300,000 people did not receive a call from establishment to go to IK jalsa at Minar-e-Pakistan.
what an inqalaab is coming.
Where lies the difference between the old establishment and the new being formed by Imran Khan when the people like Sardar Tufail are inducted in P T I
Now he is entering in Polly - ticking- no more Mr Cleans now. "when in Rome do as Romans do"Blaming others is the easiest thing here in the country of pure!!!!!!
I WISH i really Wish Sheikh Rasheed Joins PTI :p
& IMHO I see PTI sinking right after its 'rise'! Yes even before elections, PTI will make more n more mistakes.
Any addition is good but tickets should be awarded to those who meet criteria.
If Imran Khan gave the tickets to such politicians than,then we The youth will not hope for our good future and for our country.
According to Najam Sethi, establishment is behind Imran Khan. And Parvez Musharraf will return in March 2012, will either join or get PTI's support. And will be next President of Pakistan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9c5HVjOsKA
A party that has now a collection of the same people that had been in power previously and did not deliver, I don't know what is PTI upto but something smells fishy and roten.