The writer is a PhD Scholar at West Virginia University in the US
According to him, the PML-N victory is due to massive rigging on polling day because the returning officers, presiding officers and bureaucracy played a dirty role in supporting the PML-N candidates. He showed his great concern over the huge vote gains of the PML-N’s winning candidates. Presiding officers were given additional ballot papers to fill the boxes and they did their job at the time of counting the votes. However, Mr Khan did not present substantial evidence in support of his argument. I reminded him that he himself had predicted huge voter turnout in his speeches because the PTI had mobilised the voters to come out, particularly the youth and the upper classes. Despite their claim, the voter turnout was even less than the PTI had expected. It was unbelievable that the only party having conducted the “party elections” in the country was not ready for the general elections.
It is interesting to note that Mr Khan has expressed his concerns with regard to over 25 constituencies, of which only four, he demands, should be electronically analysed. If all these seats are given to the PTI supposedly, the PML-N still remains the majority party. Hence, Khan’s claim regarding the “massive rigging” seems baseless and without any substantial proof. Imran Khan also defends his decision to hold party elections. He has no regret over the timing of intra-party elections. However, he admits that his workers lacked the necessary training needed to meet the challenges on the polling day. Had the PTI properly educated its workers, the election results would have been slightly different. Another political issue which he discussed was the establishment of two institutions in K-P: a) the Accountability Commission; b) a Monitoring Committee of the party to look after the activities of the provincial government. As far as the accountability commission is concerned, it might be a good move. However, the party committee to monitor the performance of the provincial government is against the established democratic norms.
Imran’s other approach that the PTI’s good performance in K-P will enhance its credibility in the whole country, is naive. He has no strategy to win over Punjab having the majority of seats (183 of the total 342 seats) in the National Assembly. It is also not admissible to launch a mass movement against the government on the rigging issue. The PTI should be looking forward and they will have some other issues to raise protest against the government, such as power shortage, price hike, corruption, and terrorism. In addition, Imran Khan should also understand that he has a chance to win the next elections, so he should not think that the establishment could bring him in power if the present regime failed.
It was surprising for us to know that Imran Khan accepts the responsibility for good decisions, such as the PTI’s successful processions both in Lahore and Karachi. However, he made other members accountable for the bad or controversial decisions, especially on the distribution of tickets. As the party chairman, he should accept the responsibility for his party’s decisions — good or bad, popular or unpopular. In my opinion, Imran Khan should develop a proper and scientific decision-making process in the party.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (37)
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His interview was so poor. No valid questions, no touch to real issues. It is better for him to enjoy his life in US.
One of the most biased pieces I have ever read. Massive rigging was shown on television for crying out loud but was swept under the rug by the powers that be. Amazing that the author missed out that piece of info. And when you see hundreds of protestors coming out on the street against the 'alleged' rigging...there has to be some element of truth there right? I have never seen that happen before (in the previous elections) especially after every losing party blames the winners over rigging. I would request the author to look at the bigger picture and stop keeping such a narrow minded approach. If you do not want to believe in IK, thats fine...but the least you could do is appreciate the fact that this man is the only politician in Pakistan today who dared to dream a different Pakistan! I defy anyone to show how Nawaz Sharif or Zardari or PPP have done anything different in their 2 and 3 rules respectively. How many chances are we going to give these people??? They have already drained the country dry!
I voted for PTI, but it's about time that fellow PTI supporters wake up and smell the coffee. I'm sure that a lot of IK's complaints about the elections not being free and fair are justified, but even so there's no way that PTI could have swept the general elections. That PML-N stomped PTI's chest-beating tsunami rhetoric (which involved a fair bit of Nawaz bashing) by winning 183 out of 342 seats is a slap on their face and it seems like despite winning KPK's provincial government, IK is still bitter that it won't be able to have a smooth relatively easy run by winning the 'holy grail' of N.A. seats in central Punjab and instead has to deal with a headache in volatile KPK.
As an upper middle-class urbanite, a lot of my fellow PTI voters have the attitude that they're doing this nation a huge favour by voting, and that if things don't go their way they have to be in denial about it. I'm sure this author is biased, but still IK needs to step into reality and look forward instead of promoting a crybaby culture.
Once again all the IK supporters are on fire after reading a critique. IK doesn't have any patience for critique and same is true for his supporters. When someone utters a single word about IK or PTI, it becomes yellow journalism. They just want to believe that everything is perfect. So be it. Imran Khan may become the next premier by 2113 if he continues like this (and his supporters too)!
On biased terms, I would like to term this article a useless one because I think the writer has no hand on experience of Pakistani polity. The writer's naivety depicts its self-centered approach. Well, IK was of the opinion that if ECP holds thumb impression in just four constituencies and finds some signs of rigging then it will be clear that these elections are rigged. He demanded only four constituencies and not 25 because of its plausibility.
I thnk the writer with due respect had not the wider vision abt IK.wat more u expect frm life which he had been awarded by Allah n as far as i remember hes the most desirable n admirable n popular cricketer evar world had seen n hes using this fame for pakistans prosperity n betterment.wat he cant earn frm his cricket fame .he clearly stated before elections dat he made mistakes regarding party tickets.whst else he say for accepting ownership abt it.he is not over confident abt election results but he a fighter n he knows how to keep the moraal high n who beleives Allah they had the every xhance to b hopeful.next time writer shud go wid an open mind to overcome his fears abt IK
@Falcon, you said it better than i would have :)
@ Ricky: Dhoni (outside cricket) does not have the personality and charisma of Imran Khan. Imran Khan started politics after retirement from cricket and today (after long political struggle) he is the leader of third largest party in Pakistan and has government in a province. On the other hand many popular Bollywood actors entered politics and failed.
@ Author: Being an educated person you should support stance of Imran Khan to recount some constituencies based on biometrics (scientifically) to start a good practice to make election process more credible even if it does not make any changes in the current scenario.
Unfortunately, incisive and accurate account
This folks, is what we call irony.
Sir, your understanding of how the elections were conducted in Pakistan and how they were won or lost seems to be confused with how elections would be conducted in a developed democratic country...........in Pakistan things are done differently and possibly that is what Imran Khan tried to explain and you failed to understand. Having said that, I will conceed that Imran Khan and the PTI are a confused lot trying to learn on the job and in the process making serious blunders.............if they learn from this learning process it would be good.
@Ricky, IK's name to fame might be the Winning World Cup Captain, however, that is NOT why he is supported and wished for to become Pakistan's PM. It is his honesty, dedication, die-hard patriotism and the urge to bring the country out of this turmoil. Actions speak louder than words and we have all witnessed that in IK. This man has sacrificed lots for the country.
This man holds a PhD degree? Rational and scientific portion of my brain doubts it.
@chengez k: He wants to get a Green Card.
@Falcon scientific de-biasing. Good one.
I wish if you could have highlighted some valid weak points of PTI chairman; overall the article is useless.
@Ricky: Bad analogy. IK did not shoot to politcal fame only due to the world cup victory. Instead of using that fame for personal gains, he made a state of the art cancer hospital in Lahore where 70% of the poor are treated free of charge. He then made a university in a rural area in Mianwali where poor students study for free and earn Bradford university degrees. He then formed a flood relief foundation which has provided free shelter to flood affectees. He is the most trusted leader in the country. He formed a party with the ideology of alleviating the sufferings of the poor. His party has unprecedented achievements which will soon be realized by the public. His loyalty and devotion for his country is unquestionable even by his critics. When he talks, he talks about creating leaders, not supporters. That is what makes IK the man he is and that is what makes people love him so much.
We all have seen all forms of videos on our screens of the rigging that took place on 11th May. So IK is right to say ECP failed to carry out free & fair election. With regard to the writer questioning why IK demanded verification on only 4 seat and not 25. He needs to watch IK's speech in NA. The aim is not to create unrest in country but to highlight how rigging did take place & how to plan better for future elections. Yes PTI was not prepared for the E day polling I.e agents where not aware of the problems they will face and how to respond.
As for ticket allocation IK already before the election in the closing speech of election campaign told his supporters mistake where on some ticket allocation. So he accepts responsibility so not sure what the writer is going on about.
I found the comment hailrious where the writer is saying IK should not think that establishment to bring him in power, more like IK will refuse to take power if not elected by the people of Pakistan. I think the writer needs few more meeting with IK. Thx
IK's name to fame was that he won a championship while captain. M. S. Dhoni has won half a dozen and every possible world championship. Based upon this Dhoni should be Indian PM or UN Sec. General?
"It is interesting to note that Mr Khan has expressed his concerns with regard to over 25 constituencies, of which only four, he demands, should be electronically analysed. If all these seats are given to the PTI supposedly, the PML-N still remains the majority party. "
The author, has although met Imran Khan but apparently he hasn't been following him which points to his real intent of writing this article. FYI Mr Author, IK has repeatedly said that he wants the results of those 4 constituencies investigated so as to setup a precedence for the betterment of democracy. He's not interested in recounting of all constituencies. He is a smart man unlike most of our new rulers unfortunately. Just imagine, what would happen if the outcome of a transparent investigation based on biometrics proves the results wrong for even one constituency. But alas, the corrupt government will never let that happen will it?
A very lame and unscientific article !!! The arrguments don't make sense at all.
I am a supporter of Imran and PTI. Solely because I think he is head and shoulder above the current crop of leadership in Pakistan. However, I certainly don't think that he is a god. I think we shouldn't be shy of critisizing him or PTI. This is necessary keep him and PTI in line. I can list down a number of things that PTI can do better. On the issue of sole searching for election results in Punjab. I think PTI Punjab chapter is already holding review meeting on district level across the province to compile a final report on the PTI performance in the elections in Punjab. The final report will be tabled to National leadership. However, I think such reviews should be conducted on other 3 provinces and the outcome should be used to devise a nation wide strategy for next 5 years.
You had to meet IK to write this?...
This guy (imran) lives in Fool's paradise and is adamantly refusing to step out if it
This guy needs to go to Pakistan and see that its defying the laws of science right now. Come on guy lets interview Nawaz and his "scientific approach" who Im pretty sure won right. Its like the entire media is just ignoring them.
PTI's biggest weakness is its complete refusal to take criticism.
Doctor Sahab - Scientific analysis is reserved for technocrats. Had you met Asad Umar, you would have gotten answers more palatable to your liking. Expecting a politician to admit his /her political weakness is naive to begin with. Political posturing has its own place in the 'scientific' domain of perception management. Lastly, I don't remember you praising IK in your prior op-eds anyways. So, it would be a good idea to apply some 'scientific de-biasing' in your analysis framework. Cheers.
Woah not at all surprised to see how the press media and social media has 'sudddenly' started to write articles targeting pti and their performance! Perfect example of ptv when they cut IK's speech on purpose! And now these articles have suddenly sprung up, attacking IK! Why don't you write about budget, about the fake promises of NS, termed as 'Josh I khitaabat', and major issues that are affecting the Awaam. Oops I forgot , it's their govt and how the media is controlled by them! Dear et writers, your biased articles will not change the reality, or turn us against leader! And oh, if you think that you'll go to IK for his interview and he will tell you everything how he feels, then you're certainly wrong!
What rubbish kind of silly journalism is going on in Pakistan !!
@ Asad Iqbal Is Javed Hashmi member of this family?and was this the family he was talking about who wasn't happy at him for calling Nawaz Sharif his leader?And where are the family members when one member asks to free Mumtaz Qadri?
@Ali:
but its not opinion based. the writer met IK, or did you skip over that bit in your hurry to get the first meaningless post in?
Define scientific please?
Jo hua behtari k lye hua, inshallah next time IMRAN KHAN family pori tiyari kre gi. Inshallah. IMRAN KHAN family mean PTI
A very biased piece. Even after his fall, he has talked about almost all these issues more than a couple of times rigging, party performance etc etc. Seems this article has been written to mislead public. On the question of why four constituencies out of 25, he has already given a detailed explanation in his NA address. Writer couldn't quote where IK was taking credit while dismissing the efforts of the members??
Let's write an opinion based judgmental post about Nawaz Shairf - Said no ET writer ever.
ACE (Anti-Corruption Establishment) already exists at provincial level, besides NAB having an all encompassing federal mandate.
Why not strengthen the ACE and improve it, instead of setting up a new provincial anti corruption 'accountability commission'? Latter allows you to raise (factually false) slogans like 'we created the first accountability body' etc instead of procedural, legislative and policy reforms that strengthen an existing organization and make if effective.
It is interesting this U.S based scholar did not mention drones...or anything Imran Khan may have said about America
Also surprising to see that all U.S based reporters/ scholars are always trying to please U.S Embassy in Pakistan.