The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) central executive committee will have to make some difficult decisions at its January 14 meeting in Lahore.
It is to decide whether or not, or under what conditions, it will accept politicians willing to join the party, according to an office-holder who wished to remain anonymous. Some of the big wigs have asked for certain assurances – that all their group members be accepted into the party and that they be given a party ticket to contest general elections from a constituency of their choice – said the party official.
He said that Imran Khan had directed that a committee be formed to vet the candidates.
The Pakistan Muslim League (Like Minded) is ready to join the party but only as a group, a condition the chairman is not very keen on accepting, said the source, adding that Khan wanted them to join the party “unconditionally”. Former National Assembly speaker Hamid Nasir Chattha wants a guarantee that he will be given a party ticket from Wazirabad, according to the official. “Chattha’s political rival, Ghulam Sarwar Cheema, has already joined the PTI. Chattha wants an assurance that he will be the one who gets the party ticket,” the official said.
Everybody is expecting early elections and wants a quick answer, said the official. He also hinted at one of Nawaz Sharif’s very close aides, “who was a member of PPP-PML-N coalition cabinet”, joining the PTI.
According to the source, Mian Ashfaq and Mian Farhan Latif of the Chenab Group in Toba Tek Singh; former MNA Qurban Ali Chohan and his son from Vehari; the Rai’s from Chichawatni; and Shafi Jamot from Karachi are all in talks with the party.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2012.
COMMENTS (23)
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The real youth-led revolution for the first time in the history, all these feudals combine, and PTI is ready to bring revolution for the common man
As Khan is saying that he is the leader of youth and he is , then why he is not bringing the youth ??? Give 50% party tickets to the old party members/workers , 35% to the graduated youth and the remaining 15% to those who had joined the party now a days . I am hopeful that Khan and the party will do so and this will bring the real change Insha'ALLAH . And a request to Khan plz allow those who are changing their parties with a cause ( cause of nation not their personel cause ) for the first time and don't allow those who have changed parties .
You mean Qureshi, Hashmi, Tareen Kasuri Asef Ahmad Ali have not been promised seats upon party posts already in the PTI .......lol. you guys must be insane
IK should stick to his stance.... no alliance and unconditional joining (no assurances)
I think by rejecting some PTI graph will go high and high ... they all know that wind is blowing in PTI's favor so they wanna cash in...
If they are allowed to join as a group many will join in groups and those who have already joined will start making demands laying the grounds for party hijacking....
If they refuse accepting bigwigs of other parties how would they manage to get crowd in their Jalsas in different cities, like in Karachi every feudal brought his crowd and so in Ghotki.
@Ali Tipu:
Can you mention your source?
I know an important member in CEC and discussed alleged hijacking of the party. Results of the discussion: PTI is at a critical point, either the vision of the party and IK (of having a welfare state, a merit-based government, etc.) is hi-jacked, derailing the party, or the party frees itself from the clutches of free-horses, without rejecting them, and sticks to its vision and carries the day. If it accepts conditions from the candidates, it'd be a step towards party's derailment.
@Truth Teller: what do you think? He bacame so big because he has killed his ego. How can you judge anyone like that? we can see your big ego in your crude cynicism.
See the miseries of bieng a polician in Pakistan. IK is clean, but he has to cover so many hurdles to become PM. It's good to have youth with you, but right or wrong one needs the big wigs to win seats in the interior provinces.
Stay away from opportunists!!!
What will happen to IKs ego which is as big as state of Texas?
These all people carry worst baggage. Please don't be hostage to these people. Let them go to other parties. You only have to trust & believe in ALLAH (SWT). The rest will come automatically INSHA ALLAH. if you are sincere & honest in your thoughts.
No conditional entry even to big names in politics.that's the way forward for pti.pti zindabad
everyone should be welcomed with open heart and arms BUT without any assurance of ticket or position in the party. Just stick with rules and they will come anyway...PTI Rocks
I have heard that Ayaz Amir also wanted to join PTI on the assurance that he will be given key position in the party but IK refused and said that all the positions will be filled on merit and that he cant give any guarantee in this regard. This resulted in his column bashing IK and 'Inqilab' in the Jang a few days ago.
PTI and IK must have the confidence in the youth as they always have but not in the big names.
All of these new joinings specially in the form of big groups really shows the success stories of PTI. Imran Khan took his stance on rules and he should stick on his stance.
Party tickets should only be given on merit and that merit policy should be transparent. Regards, Adnan Sohail Finance Secretary, PP-137, PTI.
If Imran Khan succumbs to their demands then it is GOOD BYE PTI
hahaha This is a real Youth-led Revolution!!! Lol
Party's vision, goals and discipline should not be compromised at any cost . These politicans should realize that the days of normal power politics are behind them. If they want to join, they must surrender all of their ambitions of grabbing power for personal gain.
Imran should publicly refuse accepting politicians with dubious reputation. It will increase his political stature.
No tickets surety at this stage. Just resist, end of the day they will join unconditional. See long term benefit.
These are the opportunists that PTI should avoid taking in. IK should stay firm on his stance of only allowing them unconditionally. PTI tickets should only be handed out by the parliamentary board on merit and after considering all nominees from a constituency and after proper scrutiny.