PTI chief Imran Khan addresses a press conference in Lahore. PHOTO: NNI
ISLAMABAD: Accusing Sharif brothers of misusing Punjab Police to shut Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf’s (PTI) polling stations in Rawalpindi, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) was threatened by his party as it was promoting true democracy.
He made these remarks while addressing the media in Islamabad on Tuesday.
He added that the Punjab Police could not be blamed alone for the closure as they were just following orders.
The PTI chairman said that his party will seek help from the Election Commission of Pakistan in this regard and the Supreme Court if needed.
He further accused leading parties of making electoral alliances with “terrorists and corrupt leaders,” just for maintaining its hold on power.
He assured his party workers that intra-party elections will be held despite all the hurdles.
Refuting Imran’s claims, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal - on his official Facebook page - said, “What Khan Sahib is not telling that police acted on court order which PTI workers got against rigging in party election.”
“My request to those PTI sympathisers who joined Imran for change that they must realise Imran has PML-N phobia and is being sponsored to divide PML-N votes only,” he said.
Elections in Punjab
PTI Provincial Election Commission finalised arrangements for party elections for Punjab district and tehsils.
Voting was set to start at 9am and continue till 5pm. A senior member of election commission said that those elected at union council level would elect tehsil, town and district officer-bearers.
Sheikhupura, Gujranwala
PTI intra-party elections in Sheikhupura were disrupted when a clash broke out between supporters of two contending PTI leaders.
The participants snatched ballot papers and manhandled the PTI’s election commissioner for the area Zulqarnain Doger.
Similarly, polling was stopped for a while after a clash broke out in Gujranwala.
However, during the polling, supporters of a PTI candidate attacked media persons when they tried to film them displaying weapons publicly. The brawl left few badly injured.
Express News reported that senior leaders were also involved in the fight.
Police were called in to control the situation.
Lahore
A clash broke out in the city’s polling station when one of the contesting leaders tried to take his polling agents inside the station.
The polling started an hour and half late because of the scuffle.
Multan
Polling in the city was postponed for two days after supporters of a candidate protested against incomplete ballot papers.
The supporters met PTI senior leaders, who assured them that new ballot papers will be printed.
COMMENTS (47)
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PTI / Kaptaan seemed confused showing desperate signs of Extre me Pmln phobia. The hooliganism witnessed today & more likely expected later will surely demolish PTI soon. Totally agree with Adnan Sadiqui on all his assessments.
Sometimes Imran Khan exaggerates and this time by accusing PML-N of hurdling in Rawalpindi's PTI's intraparty elections is just an exaggeration only.......
@Usman:
Very sensible thing to day. Seems you are a convert in the last sentence, where you advise IK to get used to thinking like an adult and not as a "kid"
Congratulations :)
@Go Zardari Go!!: "Don’t care about your cricket points but he was the reason that Pakistan won the World cup, the captain is the one that guides a team and inspires and uses talents available to him in the best manner. Miandad and Akram were just talents it takes true leadership to utilize those talents." Speak for yourself. Do you mean to tell me you can't function well in your daily life or anything you enjoy even if you're supposed to be better than average at it without having your hand held? I know it's certainly not the case for me, especially on anything I'd consider myself remotely talented at and I'd hope I'm not alone, too. Saying someone is talented and then saying they need someone to tell them how to utilize that talent means they weren't all that talented to begin with. It means they have a body they aren't using right. That describes a person of below average ability. A captain is someone in charge of motivation that also keeps people on the same page due to them all focusing on the same point rather than differing opinions. Those differing opinions could even work just as well or better if utilized with clearheaded and assured cooperation of the others. The captain is just given the benefit of the doubt and by default is listened to to keep things from getting complicated. It's about efficiency.
@Shah: Evil wins when good Men fail to act and Evil in Pakistan does not sleep. Get used to it kid.
All these PML(N) supporters bashing PTI and IK, have you ever asked your leadership whether they have ever conducted a transparent party elections? and Who contested against who? and how many votes were casted? How was electoral college formed. Nominating favourites and family loyalist at key positions and having 'elected unopposed' by your own nominees by mere show of hands is not democracy. Its not merit. I wonder this is the system they want for rest of Pakistan if they ever came in power? Critsise Khan for not doing a perfect job. Certainly PTI workers can improve their discipline. But you can't critise him for not trying. He could easily opt for sham election like PML(N) and PPP. They both completed their election in a single day. It would have taken a lot less resources and would have been a lot easier. He chooe the hard path because it is the right way of doing things. Ask your leadership if they have the guts to even dream about it. PML(N) and PPP are not political parties, they are feifdoms of Sharifs and Bhuttos-Zardaris.
Watch Positive Outcome of PTI Intra Party Elections in Punjab and a lesson for family parties http://tune.pk/video/40718/A-Positive-Side-of-PTI-Intra-Party-Elections-in-Punjab-
@Adnan Siddiqi: Hooliganism eh- Is that the same PML that are backing terrorists that are killing our brothers because they of a different sect. The PTI is attempting to change a culture and there are always teething problems but at least we are trying. You keep voting for the Sharif/ Zardari Dynasty and stay as a serf.
@Raj - USA:
Don't worry--the swinging Yorker is on its way!
When ECP is going to apply article 62,63 on Imran Khan ?
Well,Imran Khan is absolutely right. I was in the polling station(in rawalpindi)when Rawalpindi police came there and started"lathi charge"on PTI workers. ISF head of Rawalpindi also asked the policemen why they are doing such kind of cheap stunt,they replied that they have been ordered to do this. They said,we are"sarkari mulazim"and we do what our"boss"orders us. Shame Shame Nawaz Shareef...Shame Shame Shahbaz Shareef...Shame Shame PMLN
@Falcon:
I did post a nice "holy" rebuttal to Darbari Siddiqi but ET's bull terrier ate it for lunch!
IK is the only hope. Brothers and Sisters whether you win or loose in intra party elections, please stand united for strong PTI under Imran's leadership.
@Adnan Siddiqi: He has his tax returns available online since 1980, what proof do you have of the so called allegations, except conjecture. Now tell me where are the Noora's and Zardari's tax return. How the heck did he built a giant home in lahore.
You know how much cancer treatment costs I'll pay a Rs850 blood test to get literally an incredibly expensive cancer treatment for free.
A university whose degrees from a recognized world wide institute yeah I'd say.
Don't care about your cricket points but he was the reason that Pakistan won the World cup, the captain is the one that guides a team and inspires and uses talents available to him in the best manner. Miandad and Akram were just talents it takes true leadership to utilize those talents.
On education he said 5% of GDP would be spent after taking anti corruption measures and reducing budgets of the military and wasteful spending. And 2.5 trillion rupees over 5 years.
Check the number of registered voters for PTI you'll know why its at 20mil
Niazi clan HAHA do you know what intra party elections are for even IK would be elected on March 23rd. For someone attempting it for the first time I'm sure those dynastic idiots want the same old system so instead of hating begin appreciating. All in all I rest my case you're making yourself look stupid. Nothing wrong with it half of pakistan is.
Now TELL ME (I know its in bold) WHAT HAS THE PMLN DONE OR THE PPP. what has Nawaz accomplished, besides supporting terrorists. Freakin Amateur.
@adnansiddiqui.
fair enough brother. you have achieved many more successes thank IK.
tell me what nawaz and zardari have accomplished in their lives prior to becoming PMs.
@Pakistani: you are delusional..PPP has taken Pakistan to the brink of failure..do you even know what you are talking about??..there is a limit to blindly supporting a party that is so corrupt.you are furthest from a "Pakistani".
@Pakistani: IK is the only one who can take two wickets in one ball...... PPP and PML-N. The problem is he always bowls a "No Ball".
Vote PTI. Kick out the filth!
@Adnan Siddiqi: and who are you?
@Adnan Siddiqi: Go easy on poor @John the Baptist. We know you love PMLN...but it doesn't have to get this bitter. On a side note, I haven't seen a non-political comment from you either or is it that you just post for PMLN / against PTI?
@pakeagle:
Pardon me for the pun brother but the achievements stated above reads more about a 60 year old bachelor's resume on a matrimonial website than a leader aspiring to become PM of Pakistan....Buhahahahahahahahahaha! And yet those so-called accomplishments are erroneous. Here, let me make some corrections for our other learned bloggers:
Record of non-corruption - Did not pay a single penny in tax between 1971 and 2002. Is alleged to have plundered Zakat funds meant for poor patients of SKMH.
A free cancer hospital - Everyone knows that a hospital can never be free when it charges Rs. 850/- for a blood test.
A university - Is he the only one alive in Pakistan who has built a university?
World’s greatest all-rounder based on statistics - Not quite! Please enlighten yourself with the "Statistics." http://spiffyd.hubpages.com/hub/Best-allrounders-in-Test-cricket-history
1992 world cup captain - Ably assited by Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram
Building a party of 5 into 20 million supporters - Was it in Lala Land by any chance?
pti has published an economy plan and an education plan and foreign policy - Some education plan which allocated Rs. 2500 billion when the total budget of Pakistan is Rs. 3000 billion....Bravo!!!
Oxford Graduate (without Parchee) - Can you please name me a person who can graduate out of Oxford with a Parchee?
Refined the art of reverse swing and passed it on to future generations of pakistanis - Wrong again, it was Sarfaraz Nawaz.
Destruction of dynastic politics - Yet the Niazi clan rules the roost in PTI
intra-party democracy - Which is challenged in a court of law by its own members on account of rigging and voter fraud.
@Fatimah Khan:
If winning the world cup (The only achievement of IK) was a tall order, "Growing Up" is even taller - trust me, even IK would agree :D
@John the Baptist:
It is unbecoming of me to respond to someone who is evidently a baptist minister and at the same time a disciple of the cult otherwise known as the Branch Imrani Sect.
And for the love of mighty Lord, do us a huge favor and stop posting your nonsensical gibberish under the garb of intellectual discourse. Trust me, your inanity can be made out from a mile away ;)
Grow up Imran Khan !
@Umar Khan: Speaking the truth is always good, but crying like this is childish.
This was a really tall order. It is really respectable that PTI was able to pull it off. Way to go IK!
saleem:
here are some of his successes:
Record of non-corruption A free cancer hospital A university World's greatest all-rounder based on statistics 1992 world cup captain Building a party of 5 into 20 million supporters pti has published an economy plan and an education plan and foreign policy Oxford Graduate (without Parchee) Refined the art of reverse swing and passed it on to future generations of pakistanis Destruction of dynastic politics intra-party democracywhat have your leaders done but steal from the national treasury and the common man without shame?
@Adnan Siddiqi:
Has anyone bothered to apprise him that the authorities in Pindi were acting on the order of the court to stop these sham elections since they were being conducted against a stay order obtained by another group which belongs to PTI!
Can someone wake you up? When in Pakistan where leader of the opposition flaunts the courts and EC does the police show up to enforce a sham stay order by a lower court? Only when the darbaris is domain is being rattled by change! Please, for the ake of your own country, stop spraying innanities in these forums. Be real, for God's sake, the people looking at this "law enforcement" tamasha are not kids!
@ Shoaib and other PTI/IK bashers - The culture of fair and transparent elections is new to Pakistan , it will take some time for public to embrace it. The few incidents you are seeing are because thats how are public is wired to behave when it comes to elections. I denounce these riots as much as you do. I can bet that since all other parties never had any party elections the scene they would have created if they ever conducted party elections would have been much much worse.
The great thing is that PTI's senior leadership is not rigging the elections and hand picking their favorite people. They are allowing the locals to select their own leaders , who may get carried away in support of their respective candidates. Appreciate whats good , improve whats not good :)
PML-N claim police interveened to stop rigging.
Then where was police when entire PML-N elections were complete in 5 mins?
Long Live Pakistan. Long Live Imran Khan. The symbol for Truth and Change! Please vote for Pakistan. Rise above Party Politics and Personal Interests. God Bless IK.
Before conjuring up such a grotesque lie and actually spewing it around, Mr. Kaptaan should first justify as to why most of the major hubs of Punjab witnessed hooliganism orchestrated by his "Educated Followers" which has led to the farcical exercise of Intra-Party Elections being called off everywhere.
Sharif brothers are in power they are head of law enforcement agencies. They must take action if some mysterious is going on however they not need to interfere in elections But we also know people in election get so emotional in pakistan. And they can go extrem extent for there candidate. But such people are not so much they are very few in society like .01 % may be. But it is always hard to control such people. They only way is just let this process go again and again.
Instead of criticizing others all the time, Mr. Khan needs to grow up and stand on its two legs and show what can he do or why he is different than other jugglers. Then people will speak and elect their representative for next five years - it may be you or someone else depending on how these politicians sing and dance.
IK come out of Sharif phobia. Speak out something positive.
God! Can someone wake this guy up?! Has anyone bothered to apprise him that the authorities in Pindi were acting on the order of the court to stop these sham elections since they were being conducted against a stay order obtained by another group which belongs to PTI!
@AKA and Shah. If the irregularities dont stop and the corruption never ends, it does not mean you stop speaking against the truth and accept all irregularities. I salute IK's determination for non-stop Jihad against corruption and pity your will power that even when someone is speaking against the corruption, you dislike that.
Someone ask him why Sharif brothers did not use police force in Lahore and Multan to stop polling.. is that not part of Punjab ?.. why in Rawalpindi only ?.. Come on get some life
Look Imran, you never win the election in front of mighty PPP government.Zardari is a vision leader.The massive investment from adu dhabi group,iran pakistan pipeline etc.. enough to tell you how popular he is with peoples heart.Don't fool us.Next government also formed by PPP. You always tallk words but no action,its like hollow leader.
Despite monumentall challenges and storng resistance within party hierarchy, by conducting intra Party elections Imran Khan has shown that he stands with the party workers by empowering them rather than succuming to the rich
PTI!! The only Pure Democratic Political Party in Pakistan!! Vote for it in the next general polling!
How you can expect a fair election process and revolution from a Party who cant even conduct fair & transparent Intra- Party election. Almost from every major city of Pakistan and even from out side the country (London/UK) you hears news of rigging, firing, fighting of PTI workers which shows culture of PTI & their leaders. We are expecting the same mindset in General Elections as well. May GOD protect from such revolutionist.
The biggest cry baby of Pakistan. Imran Khan. All success goes to him and all failiures are due to Sharif Brothers.
Vote for PTI
Now this is something called democracy. There will be hurdles and problems in intra-party election but that's because it's a new process in Pakistan and anything new takes time to adapt. Undoubtedly, it is the best step by any political party in history of Pakistan.
Innocent Question # 3825-968
Why is IK/PTI always whining about something or the other?
Congrats and well done IK and PTI for this democratic procedure and don't worry about Pindi. It stands by your side and shall prove it in GE, Inshallah.