Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has apparently scrapped its plan to forge an electoral alliance with Awami Muslim League of Sheikh Rashid Ahmed following stiff opposition from within.
PTI leaders – including Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Vice President Makhdoom Javed Hashmi – had opposed Imran’s plans to join hands with the AML at a meeting of PTI’s Political and Strategic Committee last month.
“There was vehement opposition to the PTI’s intention of building an electoral alliance with the AML,” a senior PTI leader told The Express Tribune.
He added that the idea of joining hands with the AML was floated by some “pro-establishment” leaders in the party.
Imran Khan met with Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on August 8 at the former’s residence in Islamabad, where the two leaders reportedly agreed in principle to forge an electoral alliance. Later on the eve of Independence Day, their two parties organised a public rally lending credence to reports of an alliance between them.
Sources told The Express Tribune that some party leaders had advised Imran to not attend the AML rally. “It was Jahangir Tareen who convinced Imran Khan to attend Sheikh Rashid’s political rally,” said a PTI leader close to Imran. However, Tareen denies having done so.
The PTI is now struggling to avoid embarrassment on backtracking from its reported electoral alliance with the AML. Party representatives are using social media to claim that the PTI never sought political cooperation with the AML.
A senior PTI leader said that the possibility of an alliance with Sheikh Rashid is now a closed chapter. “How can the PTI join hands with a person who is following the establishment’s line?”
Currently, the party is negotiating with Jamaat-e-Islami for an electoral alliance or seats adjustment, according to another senior leader. “Yes, we are studying the possibility of forming political alliances, if possible, in a bid to get the maximum possible seats in the next general elections,” said the leader.
Sheikh Rashid is hardly privy to the shifting landscape which might require him to seek greener pastures elsewhere. “We (PTI and AML) will contest the next general elections together,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2012.
COMMENTS (84)
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@Gandalf
@PakArmySoldier: Jamaate islami the thekedars of morality and woman. if imran make alliance with them it will be disaster cause you know then what will happen! banned concerts, hijaab compulsory for woman, no fashion shows or parties, no cinemas, banned music, spreading of mullah culture imported from saudia, no co-education, danda of jamatee students in universities and so on. :)
Imran is a corrupt man. He did corruption in money of Shoukat Khanum Hospital. Why has he not gone to court against Ch. Nisar and khawaja Asif?
Imran's fans should open their eyes. Imran is the greatest helper of PPP. There is a noora kushti between PTI and PPP. Imran will provide help to PPP by splitting vote bank of PML(N) in Punjab and KPK.
PTI will not win even a single seat. They are just helping PPP by splitting PML(N) votes. Nothing else.
Imran is an inexperienced and corrupt politician. First of all he should answer allegations against him. I mean his corruption in Shoukat Khanum Hospital affairs.
I see this report as media saying sorry for mis-reporting and over-exaggeration. PTI has never said that they are going to have alliance with AML. The repeatedly said IK will attend the Jalsa only. I am waiting for the day when someone will chain this barbaric media of Pakistan.
If joining hands with Sh Rashid was naive and immature, this turn about certainly shows discretion as being the better part of valour. Never too late to walk away from such suicidal blunders.
Those did not find the name of the pro-establishment party, read it again. You missed Jahangir Tareen's name. Also, joining hands with Jamaat-e-Islami. Remember it comprises the worst type of hypocrites. The current ameer says in a TV programme that women should not report rape because it damages the country's reputation. As someone already said, it is a pro-establishment party that excels in falsehood and lie, from done to Myanmar issue. Also, it would never let Pakistan have peace with any neighbour country. Political suicide from Imran Khan to join hands with Jamaat-e-ghair Islami. Wonder what his liberal supporters would do? Join PPP!!!
OMG ...Why there are so many comments on IK or PTI news? :P
@a&a: which one, U-turn or the O-turn!!
ik is very smart he know's everything. am sure he just did that to see how people are going to react to it. and now he know's that people don't like to see shiekh sab and pti together. so now he will move back! now i am sure that pti will win the election. imran is playing his cards more smarter then other leaders... he is bowling some revers swinging yorkers that most of us are not able to pick. good luck pti!
Khan sb , we trust you , do whatever you like in favor of Pakistan . if you make shiekh Rasheed a ally , it should not hurt your supporters as when criminals can join hand to take the country on the verge of total breakdown then why all the good people can join hands against these plunderers ? still and will remain a supporters of PTI.
Imran khan shoud grow up he shud realise that jamate islami is pro talibans and pro jehad supporters lol imran khan seems have lost the way.. this is the only reason i and my friends are nt gona vote for PTI because he is making alliance with mullahs of jamate islami who deceived us in 2002 elections and were made united by ISI and use them for their influence .. pakhtoons will not vote to mullahs. so imran khan is now going after Mullahs lol shame shame the same jamate islami which banned the musical conserts in peshawar they are backward thinking ppl . PTI will get a huge blow
You form an alliance with JI and I am not voting for you.
Alliance with the islamo fascist JI. Reveals the true mentality of IK.
PR disaster!
imran khan does not know the ground realities of pakistani politics.
Sheikh Rasheed or no Sheikh Rasheed.. I am a Jiyala of PTI
PTI, as well as not allying with the pro-establishmentarian AML, shouldn't ally with the Islamist JI either.
Imran Khan is looking for power in all the wrong corners.
Just saw on tv massive mismanagement during pti lahore jalsa, people fighting for food and some workers throwing food packets on poor folks.... Pti is a joke party.. If they get elected then Allah hi hafiz hai.
PTI is not a serious party,(pal may tola pal my masha).At this point supporting TTP and considering joining hands with Islamic parties., and not openly condemning the sectarian killings. I am afraid PTI will loose support.They may win about 20 seats from all over Pakistan. Imran Khan please stop listening to your lottas and do not become a Wahhabi & salfi party.You started fine but got mixed up in the end.
Very wise decision from Imran.... AML is one man party......It is better to go for alliance with Jamat Islami...
For those blindly following PTI supporter I ask this question: If this was not an alliance then what was it? a one night stand?
This decision displays immaturity on part of PTI. Very much like its supporters; the valiant arm-chair knights of crusading trolls!
Unfortunatly the media persons cry loudly as they think the people are dumb they cannot listen or understand. This story has the same atitude.
The real story is that Shiekh Rasheed tried to join hands with PTI and he was directly in contact with imran and there was some leaders concern. But now the media is blowing the air that PTI is backtracking. First who announced that PTI joind hand with Shiekh Rasheed. Imran Khan said in Liaqat Bagh Rasheed i had diffrences with you and i have now also but you have been critising the both rulling parties. I came here to support you. Where is allience. Imran Khan is not nawaz sharief or asif ali zardari. Unfortunalty some people think all political leaders are same. What if Imran Khan had visited liaqat Bagh to support Shiekh Rasheed rally against corruption and hypocracy.
Well it's every political right to make moves and manure things within the legal framework of politics so did PTI so wat s the fuss abt?? I don't understand!!!
@Vaquas But this is conjecture. Is this how u do serious journalism?? PTI , the party itself said BEFORE the Jalsa and on ebery tv channel that we are not making any alliance, we are just attending the Jalsa upon Sheikh Rasheed's invitation. Now you hav all the right to "speculate" that there "might" be an alliance in future but you cant say "oh he ws going to make an alliance and now he backtracked"..becaus PTI said beforehand there ws not going to be any alliance.
Even HAMID MEER commented on this before the Jalsa in Geo Tv's program "lekin" that Imran Khan is not going for any alliance bt just for "tabarruk"-as IK himself said that he ws not going for any alliance.
Now the IK has been having meetings with JI too, as when invited and there were thus speculations about alliance with JI too. And MQM has never invited him.
Islamic welfare state begins with "dhai eent ki masjid"!
People like Mr. Sheikh Rasheed are moles of the Establishment inside political parties, to further its agenda. Such morally bankrupt people should be shunned from all major parties. In his case, Mr. Imran Khan please don't revive his political career. He should be forced to retire from politics for ever.
PTI has no political sense. The alliance with Sheikh Rashid was bad but leaving him wounded is too bad. (Naani nay Khasam Kiya....) Now he will attack PTI with vengeance and there is no one in PTI to counter his attacks. PTI should forget to win any seat in Rawalpindi region.
Imran Khan should make alliances before the general elections as much as possible. This is the way he can get more and more seats in the Parliament. After winning with a clear majority, he should start mending the ways of those who are corrupt or opportunists, within or outside the party. Before elections Imran has no powers to bring the corrupts to justice, so his first task should be coming into power wisely and then start mission clean-up.
Who doesn't make political mistakes... learn from it!
Considering alliance with jamat e islami, a party always leading the establishment backed alliances ( PNA,MMA etc), and Imran khan promising a "change" to the people. IK you have made yourself stuck between the devil and the deep sea. you have to make a pre or post electoral alliance to form an effective government with 2/3rd majority to bring the change you are promising but you have shut your door on every other party. Or perhapes some force has promised your party a straight 2/3rd majority.
the issue of electrol alliance was discussed at PTI’s Political and Strategic Committee and they rejected it because other party leaders rejected it .. it shows that imran khan cannot rule this party like a fiefdom like other party leaders do in their parties e.g pmln and ppp are the real examples... my vote is for pakistan tehreek-e-insaaf .... its about the party and not about a person....
PTI will commit harakiri if it joins black sheep like Sheeda Tully. It already has a lot of drag on it with likes of Khursheed Qasuri, Sardar Assef, Inamuulah Niazi and other opportunists on its bandwagon.
IK was a terrific cricketer no doubt, but when it comes to politics he is a nincompop through and through. He is lucky to have such stalwarts in his party like Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Javed Hashmi et al, but with the passage of time IK is proving to be an embarrassment to these luminaries, his party and his supporters. It is a worst kept secret that IK is a closet Jamaati, has never have spoken against Taliban and has never condemned the atrocities perpatuated against ordinary people by the terrorists. Now he is vacillating between JI and AML. Wow PTI supports must be so proud of him. No wonder PML-N supporters are having a field day.
everyone should have a reality check! PTI is not a perfect party, they will commit mistakes! but at least its better to vote PTI compared to PPP PMLN PMLQ MQM ANP JUIF! just give me one good reason to waste your vote on current political parties which are in power ???? :) My Vote is for PTI-Imran Khan, time to test someone new
@Syed Ali: It seems you don't like critical stories against PTI. I don't like this pro-establishment party. Paper job is to report whatever is going on on daily basis. That is it.
It was Express Tribune that ran a story of electoral alliance on day 1 whereas from day 1 the PTI has been denying any electoral alliance. So it seems that this newspaper is trying to cover its own embarrassment by making it appear as if PTI is backtracking. If so, its quite immature for the newspaper.
@vaquas: Ik joined the Sheikh's rally on invitation, rather PPP and MQM have never sent any invitation to IK. there are some ethics in politics which u probably are unaware of...
@Ajju: lol....i guess then IMRAN KHAN is better off with people without you who one day are his voters and next day decide against it... People...stop acting immaturely, this guy atleast deserves a chance.. VOTE FOR CHANGE VOTE FOR IMRAN KHAN
"he added that the idea of joining hands with the AML was floated by some “pro-establishment” leaders in the party" Mr.Zahid Giskhori will u kindly elaborate on the above statement and give the names of those leaders in PTI who are pro-establishment.
@Ameen: Yeah, well what about Nawaz and Zardari? do you recognize Nawaz now from what he was in 1982?? I don't, in 1982 he was living with his daddy in a 2 kanal house in Model Town and now he has the palace in Raiwind and millions pound of property in London, Jeddah and UAE! That is all thanks to 30 years of corrupt rule!
Looks like the 25 internet guys hired by pmln have surfaced!!!
PTI we are with u! do whatever u think is good for u and Pakistan
@Riaz Khan: ooo did u do the damage?
Imran Khan portrays himself as harbinger of change, yes sir, he has changed, and further changing rapidly. Khan sahib will not be recognizable, if elected to the top slot. Tough reality but who cares !!!
Bad reporting ET! PTI from day one has said there will be NO electoral alliance with AML! This obviously looks like a PLANTED story to malign PTI!
@Abubakar seems like you are still in a sleeping mode, time to get up pml n wont form the next government
Good move PTI. This one man show party exist only in TV screen. Better to get rid of it sooner then later. .
interesting how an article about PML-N infighting (on main page ET today) fails to muster even a handful of comments, but any little whiff of disagreement within PTI sends the anti-PTI trolls scrambling to spew their good-for-nothing, pessimistic jibe all over the forums. quite a good indication of both parties' importance in pakistani politics eh?
@Abdur Rahman: The only thing that means is that Mr. Sincere is not living up to his name. It only adds on to the negative aspects. As if people aren't capable of saying one thing and then ending up doing another.
if PTI formed electoral allience with jamaat-e-islami, than i wont vote for imran khan. simple
To all those who are rather naively saying, it was never an alliance, then can someone tell, what it was? Why IK didn't attend any MQM or JI jalsa? Was it just symbolic? To give Sh. Rasheed a shoulder to win his constituency? Or just to create another media stunt...nonetheless, immature decisions like these are only going to hurt and not win any favors from the electorates from either side.
I would like ET or anyone of PTI critics to quote a single moment from the past when IK said they are going for an alliance with AML...anyone plz?
Damage already done to IK & PTI!
Nothing new, PTI have backtracked on a lot of issues... :)
This shows the power of decision PTI has... So wavering ? and imagining to rule the whole country... These guys, God-forbid, if get the chance to rule will create mess in the country. God save us from these hypocrite & naive politicians.
At the moment best choice is PMLN because of its sincerity, experience and probably the best political & economic team.
Joining hands with MQM is fine, but AML is bad?
There never was an alliance in the first place. That had been clarified multiple times.
That's better
If they have made a commitment with AML than PTI must respect that but they should have mused over it before. The real issue is not AML and PTI must avoid anything that diverts and create rifts within their own party. The focus must be on winning the election.
THANK GOD...I hoped IK would do so in view of intense criticism.
lol, pti is so funny & immature........
now is too late
This is simple NOT true. Right from the first day the PTI has said that there is goung to be NO electoral alliance with Sheikh Rasheed. Even before IK's meeting with him, and on the very day of the meeting ALL PTI representatives said that IK is simply attending his jalsa and there is going to be NO ALLIANCE.
Well at least they can admit they're wrong and correct themselves. Respect
Now may I ask the fervent PTI supporters a question: How is it possible that a self proclaimed 'democratic' party took a decision without the most senior leaders of the party knowing/agreeing to it? This sounds like the same dictatorship that exists in PPP, PMLN, PMLQ, MQM, JUI, ANP, etc. I like Imran as a person, he has done great things for the country. But I think he is feeding us the same BS that everyone else has. He might be a better person than the others but the only way I want to see him in power is when people recognize he is no angel and he needs to be monitored and constructively criticized like all other politicians since all politicians are a evil bunch without enough monitoring.
well at least imran khan listens to his party members view unlike other political head who just impose decisions
being a pti supporter i dont want pti to make any alliance with sheikh rasheed
Smart move by PTI . !!!!
Ah the dirty and manipulative world of Pakistani politics!
That would be a good decision... VOTE FOR PTI....
Joining hands with Jamat-e-Islami is more insidious than Sheikh Rasheed.