The people leaving the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) are opportunists while those who remain are committed to changing the country into an Islamic welfare state, said party chief Imran Khan at his house here on Wednesday.
Khan was speaking at a press conference arranged to welcome new politicians to the party, but was also quizzed by journalists about the resignation from the PTI of Dr Shireen Mazari, who had been with the party since November 2008.
The PTI chief said that he expected more politicians to join the party over the next three to four months and was confident that it would win the next general elections. He said that the PTI was competing with the media cells of the Punjab government and the federal government, which were conspiring against the PTI. He said the politicians who had quit the party would try to rejoin after the elections.
Former PML-N MNA and former Nankana Sahib nazim Jaleel Ahmed Sharaqpuri, former federal minister and PPP founding member Ahsanul Haq from Sargodha, former PPP ticket holder Hafiz Abdul Rehman Saahi from Sargodha, former tehsil nazim and JI member Chaudhry Waheeduddin from Renala Khurd, and former nazim Sabir Hussain Bhatti from Farooqabad, joined the PTI on Wednesday.
Welcoming the newcomers, Khan said that the PTI’s main aim was to make Pakistan an Islamic welfare state and to provide social justice.
Drones don’t work
The PTI chief said that the party had stood against drone strikes in Pakistan from the beginning and new research from Stanford University in California showed that 90 per cent of the victims of drone strikes in Pakistan were innocent citizens.
He said that the party had long demanded that the government release the names of those killed in drone strikes, but the government was acting “hand in glove with America”.
He said the drone attacks were counter productive as they instigated terrorism and sectarianism.
Khan urged the government to issue visas to all civil activists and journalists who wished to participate in the PTI’s “peace march” in Waziristan.
About President Asif Ali Zardari’s address to the United Nations, Khan said that the president should also think about addressing the nation to talk about the lack of security and disasters like floods. “America and Hillary cannot rescue Zardari from the present crisis of governance,” he said.
He said Pakistani farmers were becoming more and more desperate as the cost of inputs like electricity and diesel were rising. He said that the rising prices could compel the farmers to start a civil disobedience movement and they would not pay their utility bills. He said that the government had failed to tax the rich, including parliamentarians.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2012.
COMMENTS (23)
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Is it a one-sided-affair? Once you join IK, you can't leave? Or else you are a traitor, or opportunist at the least.
Only sane voice in Pakistan is Imran Khan - others are dumb and utter ignorant. They are corrupt too.
Can IK bring a change which Pakistan desperately needs. To create a middle class the land reforms are must. Will he fight against feudal lords? Another thing is religious frenzy prevailing in country. Can he fight those lawless mullahs?? I bet not. He will fail like all others.
If Imran is failed then no pakistan will ever believe a politicians again. I don't think he will be able to destroy corruption in 99 days! It's impossible!
@Hameed: Be careful what you ask for. An evil politician will always do evil while with a dumb politician, there is a chance that some good might come out.
People are leaving PTI because IK is an arogant person. I have nothing against him but the way he talks and attitude tells everything. He will feel the heat more when elections will be announced.
Stand firm with PTI. Intra-election is scaring these opportunist to death. Good that they leave now otherwise we will be harmed in future.
this is the most unfair done by our people who do nothing themselves but criticize the untested loyal people who at least think about our country..let him first come into power than ask him if he do not perform.
@Jag Nathan: You write 'I have nothing against Imran Khan. If he could do some good for Pakistan, good for him and good for Pakistan. But, the big question is “Can He”?'
Does your article truly reflect your belief or are you being mischievous?
Well, let him be elected and then we will see. Pakistan needs a change of leadership, and it needs it soon. It is already a basket case as a country - how much more should be the poor of Pakistan suffer?
What? People joined PTI? How can that be? I guess rumors of PTI's demise were greatly exaggerated
A big loss for Imran Khan ..shireen mazari's resignation will not be good for PTI...she is a true patriot and have a clean image in Pakistan..even yesterday she claimed that she has some issues with some new members of PTI and still stands on ideological views of PTI. I request Imran Khan to personally request her to come back.
" new research from Stanford University in California showed that 90 per cent of the victims of drone strikes in Pakistan were innocent citizens." You don't see pakistanis killed by talibans as innocents but you trust every 'infidel' when it suits your politics.You are a hardliner, Pakistan doesn't need.
PTI win the election.InshaAllah
90% of those killed in drone attacks are innocents But 100% killed by the talibans suicide bombers are innocents. Dont justify it by calling it a reaction. Terrorists will always act & react till we surrender our way of life to them. and why is imran khan so impressed with Stanford university report? They have based their study on media reports and what they hear but have never seen. And by the way, Mr IK it is an American report and you never believe in what America says.
Imran Khan is our hope and we stand with him. We are happy to have new people join PTI but we stand with him irrespective of electables. We don't discard power politics but it is for good cause. I am sure he will give us many new people as he knows how to bring leadership. I remember how strict he was on merit in cricket.
People are leaving PTI simply because of three reasons. One inter party polls where many feel they will be rejected by youth. Secondly, PTI has included in it's manifesto that development funds will not go to MNA's and MPA's. In developed countries members of parliament only legislate, development funds go to local bodies. Thirdly, PTI manifesto includes formation of a non political, independant public oversight board, under which control of public entities will be given. This will remove politicians power to get their supporters jobs in public entities.
IK is no different than any other politician infact he's worse cause he shoots first and asks questions later. Not that i'm a fan of AZ but i'll take an evil politician any day over a dumb one.
I have nothing against Imran Khan. If he could do some good for Pakistan, good for him and good for Pakistan. But, the big question is “Can He”? Pakistan’s problems are seriously structural and it will take a lot more than a Imran Khan to solve. Imran is more or less surrounded by a coteries of losers (9not very unlike the variety that hang around our Indian leaders) who have left other parties because they were trounced by more competent rivals (of the more conniving variety) or personalities who are best mouthing anti India, anti Israel and anti USA slogans. None of these things would bring jobs to unemployed young people who will prove to be the biggest headache for every government going forward or fill the bellies of the poor and hapless people of Pakistan. Imran, like his Indian incarnation (a.k.a Rajiv Gandhi) would be another "Aaya Ram and then a Gaya Ram." Nothing will change in Pakistan for a very long time to come. It is not the fault of the current leadership or the poor people they represent. The predecessors from Jinnah down failed you in every possible manner. to frame a national goal.