MULTAN: A short lifespan for the PTI, and a two-party system in Pakistan; that’s what former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani sees when asked about the future of Pakistani politics.
In an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune, Gilani not only defended his party’s record, but also lashed out at both the PTI and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif.
An optimistic Gilani said the PPP will sweep Multan while also improving on its gains in South Punjab. Of course, Gilani himself will be unable to contest this election owing to his disqualification, but his two sons and one younger brother are running for three National Assembly seats in Multan.
The PTI factor
In Gilani’s opinion, every political party, be it the JUI-F, JI, PMLQ, PML-N or PPP has its ‘B’ team which, in his opinion, have now gathered in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf. “If PTI is full of turncoats, it can’t bring change and revolution in the country. Imran Khan is surrounded by a bunch of opportunists,” said Gilani.
While he says the PTI won’t last, he is quick to point out that the PPP and PML-N are both ideological political parties and will survive the test of time. It is the parties that were formed during dictatorships and are full of opportunists, he says, that will fizzle out sooner or later.
If that’s the case, then why has the PTI begun to replace the PPP in urban Punjab? Gilani said it’s largely due to the anti-incumbency factor. “In Punjab, the PML-N was the ruling party so people gathered under Imran Khan due to the incumbency factor,” he said.
Coalition government inevitable
Gilani seemed confident that the PPP will form a coalition government, and if it fails to do that, will opt to sit on opposition benches. Asked if he sees a possibility of PPP joining hands with Imran Khan, he replied by saying that PTI is not an ideological party. “The criteria of opportunists is only power and they will prefer to stay in the government.”
“There will be a split majority in the National Assembly and the PPP’s seats will play an important role. We have a majority in the Senate. Without us, proponents of revolutionary political parties will only be confined to debating societies,” he said.
Sharif brothers
Gilani warned that if Nawaz comes to power, the PML-N will again try to introduce legislation like the Shariat bill which Nawaz Sharif wanted to use to become Amirul Momineen. “Shahbaz Sharif is portraying himself as Khadim-e-Punjab (Servant of Punjab). The elder Sharif wants to become king while the younger wants to be a dictator,” said Gilani.
He predicted that despite the PML-N’s slogans of change, if Nawaz came into power, nothing would change.
Defending his party
Answering queries about the PPP’s diminishing popularity, a defensive Gilani replied that the PPP is not just a national party but also Pakistan’s largest party which has been in power many times. Explaining the absence of a centralised political campaign, Gilani said he had planned to hold a big public gathering in Multan just before elections where PPP’s contesting candidates were supposed to come and hear a video address of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. However, he says security fears and other issues led to the meeting being cancelled.
“Threats in anonymous letters, a shortage of transportation as ECP is confiscating vehicles for picking and dropping polling staff and busy schedules of candidates are the reasons the party has decided to review the gathering,” he said.
However, he says there is a ‘plan B’. Gilani says the PPP has devised a strategy to appoint influential persons in every constituency to visit the whole district and to launch campaigns. Gilani himself has visited South Punjab as a part of this plan.
In response to questions about PPP’s negative campaign against the PML-N’s past or of promoting ‘politics of martyrdom’, he said the media never gave ‘soft coverage’ to PPP despite its five-year achievements and only highlighted PPP’s weaknesses. Therefore, the PPP had to launch such a campaign in order to inform the people.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 9th, 2013.
COMMENTS (44)
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I am not a PTI fan but I have seen enough of PPP and PML N. I have no option but to go with PTI this time as our country is one big mess.
love this.... "Imran Khan is surrounded by a bunch of opportunists"
ISnt the PPP and a party made by opportunist, of opportunist, and for opportunist!!!!
@Ch. Allah Daad: That is supposed to be a sarcasm, right? Or am I reading it wrong...
"a shortage of transportation as ECP is confiscating vehicles for picking and dropping polling staff" to apni garti use karo na!!!!! :@
Ideological base of PTI is strengthened by its roots which have gone down deep into ppl .... its true a few opportunists do sway here and there in all parties but genuinely speaking no body talked abt the making of nation which originates from ideological genius of IK . Its not a bubble bloom ,ppl like umar cheema ,arif alvi and many others are just an example.... so Mr Gillani once u point a finger towards others see the remaining fingers as well ...
didn't even bother to read the article. just want to say...you are "history"!!
I voted last election for PMLN due to chief justice restoration. PML N did nothing good except restoration of chief justice. If a party does not change patwari and thana culture after about 25 years in government at provincial level .. No relief for comman people in education, health, revenue and security. both brother engaged thousand of official for their securities and called themself Khadim alah . whatis qualification of Hamza Shabaz And Capt Safdar for getting MNA ticket. Our next gruller are son/Son in law of this family Imran khan vision far better. we hope better days for pakisn so I vote PTI
I was PML N supporter. But recent news on tv and dawn.com has me convinced that PML N is not good for our country. Now I will vote PTI
So obvious from his statement that both pml n and ppp are partners now and forever. Anyways who gives importance to this guy, it was a shame for us Pakistanis to have him as our PM. I am not sure why ET gave him so much importance to have an exclusive interview with him. I mean who on this planet earth wants to even know what Yousuf Raza thinks or say. I know I am being straight forward but that's what the truth is.
We need to get rid of this2 party/family system. The only/best option available for Pakistani youth is PTI.
Now how amazingly and why PPP and PML-Q are looking towards PTI as their only strong coalition partner in the government than PML-N whereas PML-N has been played the friendly opposition for approximately 3 years in National Assembly with PPP and why PPP has offered Imran Khan the next premiership's post?????
Please leave the country Gillani, we would even buy you a ticket and give u a big farewell. Please consider our sincere offer.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Are you serious? You mean "in squeezing the poor masses," I think!
Since mid seventies if on go by the opinion polls and media predictions, PPP should have been buried in the ruins of Monojo Dharo until now. TV anchors, so called independent analysts and biased media house have totally discarded PPP in these elections let us wait for the people verdicts and see who is the most popular party in Pakistan.
A Peshawary
Please don't comment on Gilanis Views...........:)
Nothing delivered in the last 5 years so the only way out is to malign PML N and PTI, very natural i suppose as he has nothing to show to the public.
So you are trying to make us believe that PPP is the only 'selfless' party in Pakistan :P
C'mon Gillani... Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Errr trying to fool us thrice...that would be a matter of national shame!!!
PPP got the sympathy vote last time around. And they blew it which was not surprising given the low calibre of their senior cadre. Without BB's star power, PPP's star is fading. Bilawal is after all not a Bhutto but a Zardari and will always be tainted goods through his paternal link. You can change your name but you cannot deny facts. PPP's start is on the wane and they have only themselves to blame.
PML(N) will be a tough nut to crack in Northern Punjab which is their base. But they have lost seats to PPP and other parties. It is difficult but not impossible.
PTI is the wild card. If people genuinely vote for change, it should have a strong showing in Punjab and KP. Not so sure about Sindh and Balochistan where they vote along primitive tribal lines.
Which ideology Gilani is talking about and if there is any ideology he should have explained the difference between these two ideologies of PPP and PMLN.
He thinks we are fools.
People love People's party and can never forget what it has done to our nation
You cannot strike out PTI , because PTI is not just a party It is a way of thinking . You can dominate us , oppress us and even kill us. But you can never take our ideology away, The ideology known as PTI.
Who cares what he thinks? And ... Why doesnt he leave then?
PTI is a reaction against reconciliation trend in Pakistani politics. Establishment can not tolerate an environment where political forces band together to fight socio economic issues. The environment where 58 2B was abolished, provincial autonomy was secured and a number of landmark legislations including women protection bill was passed. The political mandate of each others were respected. The establishment dont like this environment where politicians are not dripping blood from their mouth and instead cooperating with each other to face contemporary challenges together. So with Shuja Pasha's help the environment got polluted one more time through PTI. Imran Khan was used by establishment not to bring him to power but to destroy condusive environment for democracy to succeed
Both PPP and PML(N) have been in the Government two times each but both the political parties failed and could not change the fate of a common man.
Being a citizen and having seen many ups and downs in Pakistan's politics, now I would like to give at least one chance to Imran Khan and his party PTI to serve the masses.
Is there any harm if PTI will come into power?
During Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's tenure, Pakistan was broken into two parts in 1971 and Bangladeh came into existence.
It was Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who want to rule the former West Pakistan and did not want to give power to Sheikh Mujeeb-ur-Rehman despite the fact that Sheikh Mujeeb-ur-Rehmanz's party Awami Leauge won the elections, but Mr. Bhutto said: "Udhsr Tum, Idhar Hum".
Hey Gilani! Who's stopping you?
gillani always talk illogically
Imran Khan has turned PTI into an institution that is not dependant on him, or any feudal alliances, or any grants from landlords and criminals. It is supported by hard working middle class Pakistanis. Better get used to it, Gillani.
@Satan: PPPstruggled after 77 not living in billion dollars house 2002 BB in exile and AZ in jail PPPP largest single party 2008 PTi supporter s Taliban killed BB and party was leaderless PPP bagged largest number of votes Remove PTI from IK and PTI is aero.
" He predicted that despite the PML-N’s slogans of change, if Nawaz came into power, nothing would change. "
Does that mean he accepts PPP as being as bad as PML-N ?
sobad.
Thank you Mr. Gillani for pointing out. I have already talked about this for so long in my messages at ET here. Only President Zardari and Mian Sahib are two of the only ideological leaders left in the country who leave no stone unturned in serving the poor masses of Pakistan.
Oh Gillani give up now.You and your family has done great damage to Pakistan.We in Canada wonder, how come you and your family members still walk freely on Pakistani soil.
he is quick to point out that the PPP and PML-N are both ideological political parties and will survive the test of time
UNDER TABLE DEAL BETWEEN THESE TWO PARTIES, Imran khan has said that long time ago.
VOTE PTI ONLY. ONLY PTI.
Parties formed under dictatorships wont last long? You mean PPP under Ayub Khan and PMLN under Zia ul Haq right?
ideology is to fill children relatives in as many seats as possible
Obviously disqualification has caused Gillani extreme hallucinations and dyslexia. Wish him speedy recovery
A person who says that Pakistanis can leave if they are not happy does not deserve space in news. With rise of education and awareness, death of these two dynastic parties is imminent. We are not born to serve our royal masters.
You know when you keep telling lies over and over again to people, you start to believe them yourself. And then gradually you loose touch with reality and live in your own little bubble. I think our former Honorable Prime Minister seems to be suffering from this ailment.
Mr. Gilani.....now it's time to wake-up.....!!!!!!!
The ideology of PPP and PMLN is the thinking of themselves as the kings who want to rule forever and they belief that the people (even educated and professionals) them-self can't do anything. Wait for a couple of days to belief the other way round.
Hey Gilani, Why dont you leave Pakistan? Who is stopping you?
I think PTI is the only party that would last long. A step towards that has already been taken by Imran Khan, that is the within party elections. PPP everlasting party?. Lose the bhuttos and then tell me. PMLN everlasting party?. Lose the Sharifs and then tell me. After these elections PTI is destined to be an ever growing party independent of Imran Khan as it has always been. I think parties like Jamat-e-Islami and ANP are much better in sustenance than PPP, PMLN and MQM.