Still critical of the PML-N, PTI softens its stance a little towards MQM
Imran Khan, who is a fierce opponent of the MQM, has repeatedly ruled out any possibility of even negotiating with the party. But Hashmi said, “I told him that if they are democratically elected they cannot be shunned. If the party wants, they can win voters in the city by delivering.”
Hashmi said that while the PTI had its differences with the MQM over policies, he himself had cordial relations with the party. Members of the PTI say that Hashmi is the cool-headed adviser for its emotional party chief on the party’s internal matters and its policies.
Hashmi’s visit is actually a materialisation of the PTI’s plans for entering into the fray of Sindh’s politics, where it still does not enjoy the popularity like in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. His itinerary includes meetings with party members and lawyers, and small rallies in Malir and Hyderabad. Throughout the press conference, Hashmi’s kept throwing jibes at Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), but surprisingly used a less hostile tone for Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the MQM. He was also vague about revealing who might PTI make a political alliance with.
Hashmi said that even though the PTI was criticised for having a peripheral policy but ending corruption was just how the economy can be improved. “Our party is democratic within its own structure which no other party has done before.” Talking about new provinces, he declared that PTI was in favour of establishing new provinces. But he said that there was no law in the country’s constitution for making them and the assurances being given to the people are baseless. About his party’s opposition to the Mohajir Suba, however, he said that the country can only be divided on administrative lines and not ethnic.
Mir Mazhar Ali Magsi, the former additional secretary and vice president of the Sindh chapter of PML-N, and Nawabzada Mir Atiqulaah Talpur also officially joined PTI on Tuesday. While Atiqulaah Talpur, the son of Mir Lutfullah Talpur is making his debut in politics, Magsi has been in the field for a good 20 years.
An earlier version of the photo caption misspelt the word "delivering" as "deliveringm". The correction has been made.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2012.
COMMENTS (28)
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@asad_shah... Tendulkar is more popular than IK?? you gotta b kidding me... From Europe to America & Australia to India people praise IK's intellect & honesty... just getting much runs doesn't make u great for that u have to work for people.. IK is not just an excellent cricketer, but an efficient philanthropist, an educationist, first sportsman who was UN goodwill ambassador & still ICC's highest paid analyst... what Tendulkar has done other than doing good in cricket... ?? & will u plzz mind mentioning IK's so called u-turns?
@Shah: And I think u are not aware from the worst law and order condition in Karachi . And I think only MQM is the responsoble of all this .
@faraz... my dear bro.. perhaps IK knows more than what JH knows... JH might have the experience but let me tell you it is Imran who has brought party to this level after passing through very tough times where others might have lost hope... everyday PTI is getting more popular among masses(Alhamdulilah) & Imran Khan has proved to b a man of his words.. I believe PTI can really surprise everyone in next General elections without making any sort of alliance...It would b better for PTI itself as well as for Pakistan..!
& as far as the point of criticizing PMLN is concerned why should PTI not criticize a party which has ruled 60% of Pakistan with same corruption, lawlessness, inflation & other such issues... MQM despite being a small part of govt. has been criticized whenever they were responsible... From PPP to PMLN, JUI(F) and MQM to ANP... PTI is not friend of any status quo party... any sensible person can figure it out..!
That might be JH personal views but we all know that PTI is a democratic party and its CEC decides every single issue & as far as this matter is concerned PTI(CEC) has repeatedly opposed any sort of alliance with any status quo party...!
PML(n) get bashed because it desrves it. No other party has so many family members in higher ranks of the party or ministers. All the other parties want to become national parties, including MQM, but PML-N wants to shrink to a regional Punjab based party. I guess it is ok for the many ppl of Punjab since they probably think zaat, bratheree is more important then integrity. If that was not enough PML-N supports other nationalist parties who are against Pakistan and sowing seeds of hatred. Infact it is PML-N that is doing dirty politics. PTI is learning, and in politics you don't bring change alone unless you have a complete majority. PTI will have to make alliance with parties that are willing to support it on its "agenda". Hating MQM or staying away from it is not the NATIONAL agenda, but removing corruption, energy shortage and improving economy and security is. PTI will have to get support from party or parties who agree on the agenda to improve Pakistan. For PML-N Pakistan starts from Punjab and ends in Punjab, atleast PTI is more national party than PML-N.
I second Javed Hashmi's statement about MQM
MQM is best in all mannerz.. Introduced new faces, no family politics, no curroption charges, delivered when they have authority, only organised party, based on student organization (APMSO) nd so on..
Pti is not dividing the votes of pml n , but it is pml n which is dividing the votes of pti. Becuse pml n has lose its popularity. So ,be rational and think that the pti has street power and pml n is nothing with it. Peopole want change and pti has dented a lot of voters ppp and pml n. So if people vote pml n it will benifit the ppp. So giving vote to pml n is to support ppp.
Well I have to accept these are double standards. PTI comes to Karachi bashes PML N, (not MQM), it goes to Quetta bashes PML-N (not any other force that might be causing unrest there). I guess there is a reason why the trolls are a little quite on this too. They realize how bemusing PTI's rhetoric is turning out to be.
@Pakistan politics: had it been pmln or other party, pti freaks would have censured it to the max now its coming them, they say its non-sense
When people have nothing substantial against PTI to bash about, they start calling it a party of establishment :d
People criticising Mqm have you seen the development in Karachi in recent times only MQM could have done it.
And the PTI will not make "any" alliance with the status quo parties, said IK, not just once but multiple times :)
PTI is the party of establishment, so is MQM, which always remains in power. So my emontional PTI colleagues are in for some disappointment soon!!
PTI exposed
"Hashmi’s kept throwing jibes at Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), but surprisingly used a less hostile tone for Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the MQM. He was also vague about revealing who might PTI make a political alliance with."
The only beneficiary of above policy will be PPP under Zardari, Thank you PTI.
After KPK Punjab and Balochistan Now change is coming in sindh also.good for PTI
Ironically, the party seeking votes in the name of "change" is working to keep status quo. They will split the PMLN vote to keep PPP in Power. Voters please remember, if you vote for PTI you are voting for PPP+MQM
@faraz: if your argument is correct that PTI is Pragmatist then where is the Ideology then??. Also you said that PTI did a good thing by supporting PPP in Multan and taught PMLN a lesson. Sorry this is not the case. In my view PTI actually betrayed its hardened supporters by supporting PPP in Multan and if PTI will left its seats of Multan for PPP in next election as many people are telling now that All PTI strong candidates will run from Upper Punjab then it will be the biggest betrayal of PTI to its supporters in recent times.
@Momi: Momi they have corrected it :)
PTI stance is only hardened against PMLN in recent times. Imran Khan stance on ANP is the same as MQM and moreover opposition against PPP is also not upto the par. In energy crisis and in budget we have seen the dismal performance of PTI and many including me got disappointed by the behavior of PTI in recent times.
PTI's main rival is PML-N; both are center right and target similar population. PTI can’t win elections against PML-N in certain areas without seat adjustments. PPP still has 8-10,000 votes in each urban constituency of Punjab. Hashmi's approach is pragmatic and correct; by silently supporting PPP in recent Multan elections; he taught a hard lesson to PML-N.
MQM’s votes could be vital in the national assembly. But the real problem is Imran’s sweeping rhetoric and emotional PTI supporters. PTI cant sweep the next elections, and Hashmi knows it.
Description of the photo has spelling mistake: “I told him [Imran Khan] that if they are democratically elected they cannot be shunned. If the party wants, they can win voters in the city by deliveringm (should be delivering)” says Hashmi. PHOTO: ONLINE/FILE
ET always in search of lame issues to bash PTI, stop this nonsense is this a news??