PTI leader Javed Hashmi visited ex prime minster Yousuf Raza Gillani to sympathise for his sons kidnapping. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
Ali Haider Gilani was kidnapped from Multan on Thursday May 9 by unknown armed men while he was campaigning for his provincial assembly seat.
His distraught brothers Moosa Ali Gilani and Abdul Qadir Gilani demanded that election be suspension in their respective constituencies.
Hashmi, while talking to media after his visit to the vetran Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) member Yousuf Raza Gilani’s home to offer sympathy over the kidnapping of his youngest son, said the brothers were right in their demands.
The emotions of both, Moosa and Abdul Qadir Gilani, should be respected as it is the love for their kidnapped brother which is forcing them to give such statements, Hashmi explained.
The PTI president said that all those criticising the statement calling for postponing elections in the constituency should understand and respect their emotions given they are young and passing through the worst times of their life.
Hashmi had visited Gilani late Thursday night to express his support and sympathy and condemn the kidnapping. He also paid condolences for the two PPP workers who were murdered as they tried to prevent the kidnapping.
It is the negligence of the Punjab government because they did not take threats to the PPP and especially the Gilani family seriously, Hashmi said blaming the government of Punjab and their law enforcement authorities.
He appreciated Gilani’s earlier statement about going ahead with the elections despite his son’s kidnapping and attacks on the PPP.
We condemn the kidnapping and will not let terrorists kidnap our elections. All parties should stand united in this time of terrorism and should work united for the evolution of a new Pakistan, Hasmi clarified PTI’s stance on the matter.
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I bear no sympathies for Gilani govt. However, for God's sake, lets see him as ex-prime minister for a single moment. Aren't we responsible for putting PPP in power in 2008? Rejecting his grief due to his ridiculous governance is sad.
@Arzoo: Actually both statements were different. JH is okay with them being cancelled in NA151. SMQ was concerned cause there was talk of calling elections off in all of Multan.
A few years back Gillani was asked as prime minister during a well known interview by a CNN anchor what he feels about 2/3rds of the Pakistani population wanting to leave Pakistan if they could. His answer "Why don't they? What's stopping them?" Shoes on the other foot now isn't it? And from a political party that wails at great length of all the sacrifices they have made for democracy and democracy being the best revenge, calling off the elections seem a tad bit hypocritical? Emotional or not the PPP needs to learn that Pakistan is NOT their grand father's inheritance. You have to EARN the right to rule the people, not simply born into it. This isn't a monarchy.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi's lashing out was totally out of line and inhuman. The Gilani kids reacted in a moment of anger and was understandable. It was expected that they would rescind the call. Javed Hashmi's has indeed salvaged PTI reputation in Multan.
No ,election should not be postponed.
Why is the call for election suspension coming only after an influential's son is kidnapped? In the last month, middle class candidates have been killed all across Pakistan. So, Mr.Hashmi should either call for elections suspension in all of those constituencies or not call for it at all.
The request for postponement is coming as the son of former Prime Minister is abducted.
Why it should not be postponed in other constituencies of the country, where ordinary people are been killed every day and without fail?
It means that poor people of Pakistan do not have any say in the country?
They are the voters and King Makers, then why their voices are not heard?
But, who started all this kidnapping before the militancy came in Pakistan.........PPP. How many innocent children's and Businessman's were kidnapped for ransom then, ask a victims family. Now, they themselves are the victim??? Musharraf was trying to Eradicate this Nuisance. They didn't gave him the chance.
Now this is how its done. I hope the rest of PTI and in fact the rest of the nation is taking notice.
Yesterday there was statement in ET from Shah Mahmood Qureshi of PTI who condemn the demand from sons of Gillani to postpone the elections. Is'nt it the contradiction in statements from Qureshi and Hashmi? What is their Party - PTI policy?
Its good for humanity... but what when yesterday Shah Mehmood Quraishi was appealing Election commission not to postpone elections...?
Of course, this kidnapping is a horrible crime, and I hope that the kidnapped Gilani will soon be found by the law-enforcement agencies. But why should a crime become the reason to suspend the churning of democracy? Is Mr. Hashmi saying that the love of the two Gilnai brothers for their kidnapped sibling more than the love of the families of those candidates who have been attacked -- some of whom have even died in these attacks -- by terrorists? Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Contrast Javed Hashmi's statement with that of Shah Mehmood Qureshi and one really wonders the type of people that were in the last government. No wonder the statements that were coming from the former foreign minister while he was in office were being ridiculed all over.
Well done Hashmi Sahab. His statement is more in line with PTI ethos than yesterday's statement from SMQ. We hope and pray that Ali Haider Gilani returns home safe.
Seems two different views from PTI leadership. Yesterday, Shah Mehmood Qureshi seek support from ECP to take notice / action againts Gillani's for their words, while a day later Hashmi supports Gillani words.
Is there any difference exist at top PTI leadership?
Kudos Hashmi saab. It saddens me to see some of my fellow Pakistanis ridiculing and laughing at other people's pain. Whatever our opinions about the Gillani family, we should stand with them as sensitive and sensible PAKISTANIS. But Alas, our people have lost all the sense in them. May Allah return Ali Haider to his family soon. Ameen.
@ET.......I have not given these comments before.....pl post my comments.
May he be safe. Ameen.
One would fully support the stance of Mr.Javed Hashmi. This is not an ordinary incident.Public at large appeals to ISI for help & those who have done it to stop this nonsense.Who are these people who have created unrest in our country?We should go for drastic action against these blighters.
Well, a much saner, humane, and more astute, statement from Javed Hashmi Sahib, as usual, and as expected from him. And, in a stark contrast from the insensitive statement yesterday from Shah Mehmood Qureshi which was a little shocking to hear coming from a person well-versed in diplomacy. Regardless of how inefficient PPP was during its' five year tenure, mostly led by Yusuf Raza Gilani Sahib, the nation must stand in solidarity with the Gilanis and lend all moral and emotional support in this heart-wrenching episode. The Talibans do not have to prove any further the bankruptcy of their mindset and the evil of their psychosis. Militant groups usually strive to get people's sympathy from the general populace in which they operate. As Chairman Mao Zedong once said: ""The guerrilla must move amongst the people as a fish swims in the sea." And, if they do not have the people's support they are living as fish outside of water. Talibans, and their sympathizers, should know that they are doomed to failure.