LAHORE:
The outgoing US ambassador, Cameron Munter, has denied telling the Obama administration in a confidential letter that Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf would sweep the next parliamentary vote. “That is not true,” Munter said in a TV talk show on Monday.
Pakistani media speculated that the outgoing US envoy had told his bosses in Washington that the PTI would sweep the next elections. The report had been the topic of columnists in national dailies.
“We think since the report was a leak and it was a confidential document, the ambassador did not concede its existence,” said Andleeb Abbas, the information secretary for the Punjab chapter of the PTI.
“The ambassador must have seen public meetings of Imran Khan, especially the ones in Quetta and Peshawar, which were an eye-opener,” said Abbas. In September, thousands of people would participate in a rally towards Waziristan carrying the message of peace and friendship, she said.
The PTI spokesperson said her party’s membership drive has produced amazing figures. “Our target was four million but we ended up registering 6.7 million members – a figure that also took us by surprise.”
She said the membership records were transparent and anyone, including the media, could check that. The basic members of the PTI would form an electoral college that would pick the ticket holders in the next elections.
Meanwhile, PTI chairman Imran Khan said on Tuesday that if the PPP continued to defy the Supreme Court and did not write the Swiss letter, his party would unleash a ‘tsunami march’ on Islamabad to get the court verdicts implemented. In a statement, Imran said his party stood by the apex court and would force the rulers to implement its rulings.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2012.
COMMENTS (73)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Mujtaba: They were not ready when those elections happen, I hope they will ready this time, dear it is inability of political judgement simple as it is said. Pasha is not around they could not do internal election how they will contest general national election. Political parties are not 11 member cricket team. A lot mental power is required to make political decisions, those live on charity can only beg more, all their brain power will be to find new ways to get more free funds. People gave IK fund for charity not for political parties. Love you all.
Air was filled in the balloon of PTI by establishment and West. This air has leaked now. PTI has only one motto and that is to criticize an opposition party PML(N). Their present politics will benefit PPP. I request PTI fans to open their eyes. They should awake from dreams.
It is proved again that Imran is an agent of West and establishment. USA, West and establishment have invested a lot on Imran Khan. No they are of the view that Imran cannot win elections. It is a fact that Imran cannot win elections but he will help PPP to win elections. Very evil role being played by PTI.
@poora noora: I wish i could recommend your comments a thousands time. :)
"If ppp government and parliament refuse to write Swiss letter then they will be forced out by masses," @ Prius, If by masses you mean PTI, then you are wrong. Nobody trusts PTI anymore, not even Supreme Court and black coats. PTI stabbed in the back of Supreme Court when its honour was at stake.
@Sane Voice.. Ur research is not based on sanity I'm afraid... PTI do ask for CNICs, as myself has been busy making members, & believe me I was surprised as well, Alhamdulilah PTI got support from every ethnic and religious group..we r heading towards Revolution! Support Imran Khan & b a part of it..!
A sensible person would not have contested this so called 'leak' - but then what do you expect from someone like Andaleeb, even if someone wanted to help PTI now they would be reluctant. Secondly, Mr. Munter is a seasoned vetren, there may be a mthod to this madness too. As for PTI - the majority of people I see in your jalsay and jaloos are kids and teens, who have nothing better to do, and cannot vote anyway. The problem is not winning the election, but what will PTI do after that? any agenda, any shadow government, any issues and resolution log etc. this will be like Egypt and Libya and now Syria. Get rid of whoever is in power and then what? reminds me of the joke jay america to jang jit gaiy tay fer ki hoye ga....
We are bored with the old faces in Pakistani Politics, the same old faces ruining the national economy again again and again. The people of Pakistan need to understand their moral and social rights before casting their valuable votes............I request the people to dump the old faces PPP, PML (N), MQM etc please caste your vote for a new candidate and let us all select PTI and Imran Khan as the new PM of Pakistan..........a new era should begun with renewed hopes and aspiration for a better future..........
Politics will not change Pakistan, the people will !
PTI do ask for CNIC numbers along with the Name and Location. The SMS is still in my outbox. Email me if want proof :P.
imran khan got out in 1987 worldcup semifinal while playing the sweep shot! haha
ok.... so if munter says in leaked unauthenticated cable that PTI will sweep, he is right. and if he says in an interview before camera that IK assured him of pro-US stance, he is wrong....
we see wht we want to see, we hear wht we want to hear. btw, i m PMLn supporter thats why i missed NS in the second statement of munter. :D
ramadan mubarak
Hello
PTI is the MOST popular party in Pakistan and IK is the most favored politician . PEW polls confirmed it and it is the most accurate polling org
You PPP people are living in a fantasy
Who even says there will be an election?
If ppp government and parliament refuse to write Swiss letter then they will be forced out by masses.
It's a matter of time
@Raza Khan: IK in Disney World. Funny. I really want IK to win. Seriously. But he can win only if he descends from cloud 9. Otherwise he has no chance against Zardari at a national level.
PTI cannot win more than ten seats, if it does, I will not oppose PTI in my life again.
Dear Alif Bhai, Your statement "Next Election is PTI’s victory Insha’Allah, we don’t predict it We have believe in that" reflects typical mindset of PTI. If we win elections were fair, if we lose elections were rigged. God help you guys!
If PTI managed to win a considerable seats even then they will not be in a position to rule the country without American support . If they came in the power due to support of terrorists and fanatics ,the money supply from America will be blocked . The Tsunami will be never allowed to reach in Islamabad for distruction .
IMRAN will win the elections - then he will inaugurate A CRICKET TEAM !!!!
IK group is day dreamers, he misguided nice young Pakistanis for his fund raising purpose and now using them for political purpose. His wish list is long, Mush could not made him PM, America might do it, if not, nothing lost by claiming. It was confidential report but they got is. Is american so poor in keeping confidential matter. What a jok.
Next Election is PTI's victory Insha'Allah, we don't predict it We have believe in that.
Yes if Pakistani voters only include people tweeting and commenting on face book and blogs. For sure PTI is going to clean sweep in next election.
IK please start living in real world instead of Disney World! Once he will lose in elections, he will right away blame election commissioner & blame that they were rigged. He simply has no chance because Uncle Pasha is retired.
Next election is between PTI and Pml-N in Punjab. While KPK goes to PTI specially pastun belt. Rural sind go to PP but not as much as in 2008 and urban to MQM with some gains by PTI. PTI may get some seats in Urban Baluchistan specially in Queta.
It is wrong to say PTI making members just off name. I am a part of PTI and have conducted membership drive myself apart from being part of the database team. Only those ppl have been considered members who have provided their CNIC. Its easy for ppl to sit at home and ET website to make opinoins about something they have no idea about. I suggest you all take a trip on the streets and inquire ppl about their passion for PTI.
@anwar: Sorry. Theyre too busy writing a letter.
@Iram: The interview was recorded earlier.
Maybe he meant PTI victory if they contested elections on Facebook
Munter even cannot predict if Obama in US will be able to win the second term of election, how can he predict about the general elections in Pakistan?
Nonsense.
Imran denied full fledged support to US as a result Munter denied 'predicting' PTI victory.
Its a fact that PTI will win quite a number of seats in next elections thanks to the spectacular performance of both Government and so called Opposition.
@Sane Voice: I don't know how much this figure of 6.7 million has been distorted by the PTI (because let's face it, everyone does that) and whether it's actually the number of authentic verified members, but they actually do ask for the CNIC number. What you're referring to is merely the first step in the process. I'm all for giving the PTI a reality-check but you need to get your facts straight first.
IK may be win facebook elections not general.
@Waqar: If it is PPP 2013 then expect a major change because nobody is ready to accept them again...
Wow. What a change. Since the US believes so, countrymen, please follow the suit.
PTI all the way
The end is in sight for the anti-IK " forces"-just look at the number of comments and recommendations on this article alone. We dont need to worry about these "forces" as they will be pushed aside by the Tsunami power!
Wishful thinkingPTI has been around since 1997. There have been three elections during this period, two of which PTI contested. Who swept what is there for all of us to see in the results of those elections. A similar 'sweeping' once again, since it is the same IK, and almost the same PTI, with the exception of a few known-to-be-corrupt turncoats? If not, why not? Just because I want it to be so? :)
They cant predict their own elections, forget about predicting ours! Yes, PTI will sweep the elections in the cafeterias of LUMS, IBA and CBM and NAMAL.
I dont think so PTI will sweep,they can sweep in dreams
@Sane Voice: Yes..we are collecting CNIC too.. ^_^
VOTE for CHANGE - VOTE for PTI
@ahmed
Munter has to come to realization that PTI will sweep election, an event out of his control It doesn't matter really what he wants or says
@ahmer
PTI is most popular party in Pakistan according to PEW polls.
Munter did say it, and this was leaked to probably embarrass him for his wish to stigmatize PTI by saying they are Pro-US policies which is NOT true
@Caramelized_Onion: you are wrong in your statement every party is run by feudal.
Dear Munter I predict obama to lose election in USA and you your job after American elections. Oh Poor Munter!.
Totally agree with Hassan! PTI will sweep next gen elections INSHALLAH!
Shame on the nation and its leaders ! Who is predicting our fate !
i second Andleeb when she says “We think since the report was a leak and it was a confidential document, the ambassador did not concede its existence.”
Perhaps Munter may have changed his mind after the Multan NA 151 By Poll !
PTI is the new mask as the same face supported by agencies like PML , PPP, MQM, JUI etc in the past use and kick. Its just chatting and making fool the whole nation….divide and rule…is the whole dirty and corrupt, characterless politics in Pakistan back by the establishment and angenceis to fulfill their interest by changing faces and support.
PTI is raising this issue as though Munters words are words of god. When it comes to America, all parties stand united in loyalty and faith.
Result of his meeting with NS last day.
I'm pretty sure pti will sweep the elections this time. Inshallah
Imran Khan = Everyone's puppet. No ideas, no vision, no leadership. PPP 2013!
The ideas being presented in PTI are a first in Pakistan. Every other party is run on a feudal or a family model or both. PTI is the only democratic party in Pakistan. I will vote for PTI.
someone please tell IK that 'tsunami' is not a good thing. it is destructive and not selective in its destruction. he should stop using this analogy.
Looks PTI had got US support otherwise why eould they want to leak this information and then deny it.
Does not matter if munter said it or not..the fact remains the same if some one says it or not..lets see in the next election who is more powerful the silent majority of this country who wants change or the status co who does not..
Does not matter munter said it or not...The fact remains the same if munter says it on any one else..lets see who is powerful in this country..the silent majority who wants change or the status co who does not..
I think americans aren't that fool to prescribe any party or a person to 'sweep' polls just by looking at the jalsas. I dont know why, but I feel that news was planted by PTI media cell. They are so obsessive with the word sweep, that munter also used it and similar is the case of jalsas. why would munter do that? doesnt make any sense. One thing for my PTI friends, americans are more realistic and more objective than us, they dont go by emotions. so keep that difference in mind while preparing next news release.
America is now frighten from PTI as IK is the only leader who calls them spade a spade! Whoever came in and whoever wants to go out from PTI, We youth trusts you Imran and we will be right beside you whenever you are out for a jalsa,rally,march etc. it doesn't matter we sweep in next election or not , we have started to move in right direction and that was the much needed step , rest would fall in our lap itself InshaALLAH :)
Insha Allah PTI will sweep in General Elections. It is not far now.
If the ambassador makes comments on Pakistani politics the SC and the lower courts to the district level should take notice. Just like in New york
Who cares what he says ....PTI Zindabad and Yes we Khan :)
Let the elections happen; one would get to know the truth
I am predicting PTI's victory. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf would sweep the next parliamentary vote.
hahahahahah..........someone got hit in the head with a lot of bouncers.....recent by-election where their candidate (bosan) was routed by none other then Gilani, despite support from PML N, Jamaat e Islami, Judiciary, Military and the entire media. Getting touts to write comments on social media does not mean over whelming support which PTI needs to understand. Till the time they continue to support the Taliban, no sane person will vote for them.
When your membership drive is based on deliberately flawed system..........you will be getting results which you cannot believe yourself. And you utter statements like this........
The PTI spokesperson said her party’s membership drive has produced amazing figures. “Our target was four million but we ended up registering 6.7 million members – a figure that also took us by surprise.”
I cannot imagine a fair party membership without obtaining a CNIC number.........you want to become a PTI member.....go ahead.....all you need is name (yes, any name) and a city, thats it.........And then we have tall claims of grand sucess by PTI for swelling number of members..........