Reiterating its support for the cause of democracy, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced on Friday it will side with the judiciary in case another martial law is imposed.
“The PTI is a democratic party … will never support dictatorship in the country and will side with the judiciary,” PTI chief Imran Khan said while denouncing military takeovers of the past at a press briefing in Islamabad.
PTI’s newly-appointed vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Masood Sharif Khattak were also present at the occasion.
Addressing the allegations of having the backing of the establishment, Khan said all those who have been supporting the status quo were the ones who did not want change. Khan said PTI was the only party that could bring “real change” in people’s lives. “PTI’s December 25 rally will prove to be an historic day in burying the politics of status quo,” he added.
The PTI will bring prosperity, employment and investment and eliminate the politics of hate from the country, Imran said as he invited the people of Karachi to attend the upcoming rally in which a new programme for the prosperity of the country will be announced.
Commenting on the memogate issue, Imran said, “The government has lost its credibility and there is no parallel in the world for a head of state seeking the support of another country to save himself from his own army.”
Responding to a question regarding the calls for resignation of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Ahmed Shuja Pasha over Mansoor Ijaz’s allegations, Khan said the Supreme Court was dealing with the issue and hoped that a fair probe would unearth the culprits.
The government’s success can be gauged from the fact that the killers of former premier Benazir Bhutto are yet to be arrested, despite a lapse of four years, he added.
Imran dispelled the impression that new entrants of the party were being given key posts without consultation. Qureshi was appointed vice chairman of the party after due process and consultation within the PTI, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2011.
COMMENTS (22)
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Supporing PTI just bcz it's lesser of an Evil than the Rest !
@MarkH: I was the first to acknowledge and applaud the political growth of Imran Khan but after Lahore gathering I observed many "Lotas" applying to be in driving seat and Imran Khan giving them full chance that disappointed us alot , further more he removed his old workers sacrificing for him from key posts and gave way for old corrupt faces . We are educated youth of Pakistan ,We know the history and we the latest happenings in the world therefore we are very sorry to say that none revolution in history or near past came in the way IK adopted .
@Khalid Khan: Now you are firing in the air , give reasons , tell me in history or near past which revolution came like the way Imran Khan trying ? Its another deception for PAK people .
I will vote for PTI... there is no other option...
All you guys with wise comments abt TIP, when the hell PPP or Shreifs held election ? balawal takes over PPP is this democracy ???? all the parties in the Assembly voted down the amndment to held ellections in their parties , our system right is the most corrupt and based on loot !
It's wrong of me to only comment on the negative things while ignoring the positive. My own credibility would be shot. Anyone who criticizes anyone should put double the effort into acknowledging the positives in as much detail. You can't claim what you say to be constructive criticism if the person you target does improve and you ignore it. So, this was a very smart move the other political parties need to echo as loudly. It should also be repeated until the day a military coup receives eye rolls over discussion of it being a possible future. The others have spoken it in a softer voice in the past. But, the current issues call for it to be spoken loud enough in the present to drown out the future concerns. The people, even in Pakistan, are the strength of the democracies foundation. Treat it like it's disposable and you'll become the proverbial chink in the armor that gives the opening for the collapse.
Don't mistake me for someone wanting praise out of this statement after attracting hostility from past criticism. Nor a pat on the back from his supporters. I'd rather that aspect be ignored. I will criticize negatively again if the situation fits and that's a promise.
@Faisal: we cant run a simple primary level school without a good team , then how come a single man can turn the fortune of whole country ? the term hero is found in films , nation develop because of a good team in leadership
@Faisal: very simple , be in power no matter what the way adopted , he will not be able to do anything against the families who have captured major resources of this country as he is giving them key posts in his party . This is not how the revolutions comes my friend
@Pakistani...dn't just give Mumbo Jumbo....What is hidden Agenda?Would u mind Shedding some light on it?
PTI continues to disappoint me.
@Faisal: Pakistani nation is alive now and they do speak about the hidden agendas behind the attractive slogans .
PTI will follow a policy to accomodate even adverseries , an all inclusive . He has the aim to root out the out dated political thinking of the country .
@Critics of IK: Before criticizing him would you bother to give us better option?...or u r one of those who jst want others to felt there presence by toeing line against popular opinion...?
@YouSaidIt It is a misconceived, though rapidly neutralizing, perception that Imran Khan is a dictator. The only reason he did not hold party elections till date was he did not have proper party structure. The real dictatorship is in PPP and PMLN where the same family rules while the rest are bound of obey loyally (A master slave relations).
@You Said It: Do you think Bill Gates is a dictator when it comes to Microsoft? So Mark Zuckerberg is a dictator as well for FaceBook? Was Nelson Mandela a dictator????
Whenever anyone sets an organisation, that person leads it until the organisation is on track of meeting its objective or the people within the organisation wants change. PTI is the only party in the country where there are elections within its chapter for various posts. Do your research before posting comments like this to derail people. When Imran passes away, his son will not lead the party. It will be PEOPLE WITHIN THE PARTY THAT WILL LEAD IT AND THEY WILL BE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED.
You are no different then other parties in Pakistan , when you talk about Revolution , a famous local saying comes into my mind "ye muu aur Masoor ki dar" (for scholars I must confirm that Masoor was a person who went to give himself death(dar) but never went against his principal argument)
I ask PTI that how much you give chance to Pakistani people to speak against your policies?are you not acting like a dictator yourself ? would you like to answer how much effective is the debate process in your party ? on which basis you down the old party workers and gave important posts and tickets to the people who were "lotas" of other parties ?
This is funny given that PTI is run like a dictatorship. But makes sense -- there can only be one dictator, so why would one dictator support another?