PTI head-hunting spree continues
Sheikh Rasheed, Khursheed Kasuri are said to have been approached
ISLAMABAD:
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.
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.