PTI Chairman urges people to unite to confront national challenges and change the political status quo. PHOTO: FILE
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan espoused “the teachings of Sufism” on Saturday and held out the hope that it would end terrorism in the country.
Addressing a public gathering in Rajanpur district’s Kot Mithan area on Saturday, Imran paid tribute to the services of Sufi saint Khawaja Ghulam Farid in promoting love for humanity and nature.
“The time has come for us to realise that the teachings of Islam and the teachings of the Sufi saints are one and the same,” said the PTI chief, adding that Sufi values were based on the idea of egalitarianism and the acceptance of all creeds and beliefs in society.
He called upon people to unite to confront terrorism and poverty in the country.
Imran said the May 11 polls provided people a chance to change the political status quo in the country. He maintained that feudalism had taken hold in most political parties, which as such strived towards dictatorship because of the silence of the common man. He also promised to bring an end to feudalism if PTI was voted to power.
Addressing another gathering in Bahawalpur, Imran said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party had failed to serve the nation despite having multiple chances to do so. He asserted that the country’s two traditional political powerhouses had enjoyed remaining in power, but chose to serve their own narrow interests rather than those of the public.
Imran also said the two parties had damaged the democratic process. He said PML-N did not allow anyone other than a member of the Sharif family to lead it while the PPP was simply based on the slogan of ‘Bhutto’. He maintained both parties operated as dynasties rather than democratic parties, adding that only the PTI introduced true democracy by holding intra-party elections.
The PTI chief once again challenged both PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari to have a public debate on national issues with him. He questioned their reluctance in this regard and claimed they knew they could not defend themselves in any debate on the matter, especially in light of their ‘performance and misdeeds’.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2013.
COMMENTS (9)
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@Irfan: it is just a matter of being optimist sir!! if you cannot rejoice khan`s words than do not make us to dislike yours
So, should we stop believing in our Sufi masters' teaching just because we are scared it would upset the taliban? Also, i think, taliban would themselves agree to sufi teachings, albeit to a certain degree: stop chasing us in the mountains and we will leave you alone.
I am very poor in politics because I am not interested in, but would like to comment on Nawaz Sharif Sahab who is probably (may be)a good person——BUT unfortunately, he could not complete his tenure on two occasion, each time he had to leave midway. I think it will be very unfair to hand him over this unstable country again. My dear brothers and sisters -WAKE UP please– WAKE UP. It is a matter of SAVING the country this time. I know,– you and ONLY you can save it. because Pakistani nation is genetically intelligent and sensible. We need an educated, modern,religiously smart minded, straightforward and honest leader, who can face the world. I think Imran Khan is the only one at the moment because of his previous history and is working harder than Qadri and JI. Let us please strongly support PTI this time otherwise we will be equally involved in the destruction of our country and people. Allah negheban
Imran Khan is a Hero and he is talking about the-------" Dream of a Hero".
"Dreams of a Hero" always give Unrealistic feelings to an Ordinary man.I am sick of Imran Khan and his unrealistic ideas misleading the young people. He claims to get rid of every problem in 90 days. What does he have? A Magic lamp? Now he is using Sufism, Yeah Right! Does he not know Taliban follow Wahhabism which rejects Sufism and he wants to negotiate peace with terrorists known as TTP whose actions are completely out of line with Islam. I sincerely hope IK loses the election because he is inexperienced, arrogant, selfish and aggressive.
Yeah but who will tell that to Taliban and Al-Qaeda? And especially when you'll pull troops from there..
My vote for Imran and PTI
Agree 100%...“The time has come for us to realise that the teachings of Islam and the teachings of the Sufi saints are one and the same,” said the PTI chief,
First rule of Sufism is "do not gossip behind anyone’s back –not even a seemingly innocent remark! The words that come out of our mouths do not vanish but are perpetually stored in infinite space, and they will come back to us in due time" (Shams Tabriz)
I wish Imran would stick to cancer hospital (which was built by the whole nation, not just PTI) and the cricket world cup (which we actually won because of "Rain", Inzamam and Wasim Akram) instead of using Islam and now Sufism for the sake of Prime Ministership. The level of hypocrisy IK has reached is unbelievable.