PTI chief Imran Khan. PHOTO: REUTERS
To say that the sher is losing some sleep over the Pakistan Tehreek-Insaf’s (PTI) upcoming ‘mammoth’ anti-inflation rally over the weekend would not be an exaggeration.
With the PTI vowing to amass 200,000 supporters for its December 22 rally to protest price hikes, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PLM-N) is wasting no time in executing a two-pronged counter-strategy of deflating rates of commodities, as it is concerned about the impact of PTI’s gathering on the upcoming local bodies elections.
PML-N insiders have revealed that the party’s ‘different and more practical’ strategy puts Hamza Shahbaz and the chief minister himself at the helm of two tasks.
Sources told The Express Tribune that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has deployed all government and political machinery to water down the impact of the impending ‘tsunami’.
According to government officials, the CM presides over a daily special cabinet committee on price control during which he receives reports from the executive and political leaderships.
MNAs and MPAs have been assigned duties to visit mandis and enforce government rates of commodities. The committee has also established a call centre and advertised a toll-free number where citizens can complain about price hikes in the city.
Special magistrates have been appointed at wholesale markets to control rates of other commodities.
One PML-N MNA from the CM’s committee on price control said that prices of vegetables have come down to 60% thanks to the effective monitoring.
He said that the party will issue a comparative chart of prices in K-P and Punjab before the December 22 rally, adding that Imran’s decision to protest in Lahore rather than Peshawar shows he is out to gather votes for the upcoming LG election.
Hamza’s rejoinder rally
Insiders said that the party knows better than to repeat its ‘mistake’ of holding a rally two days before the October 30, 2011 rally.
This time, Hamza will hold a gathering titled ‘Baldiati Convention’ after the
PTI’s scheduled rally, where party candidates for LG elections will participate and deliver speeches against the PTI.
They added that while someone had suggested stopping the PTI from holding a rally on The Mall by way of the law, the party sternly ruled out that option.
It is pertinent to mention that both parties asked their potential party candidates for LG election to demonstrate their power in their show of mass before LG election.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2013.
COMMENTS (70)
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@daddy: and whole Sharif family cant solve it in a millennia. Play on your positives, talking about IQ and belonging to PMLN makes you a hypocrite.
The worst part about PMLN social media is that they keep on repeating the same rhetoric again and again to make others suspicious. Browse through the comment section and see for yourself, half of them regret voting PTI while the other half think KPK is in shambles, lol
I just do not understand PTI, they are elected in KPK but doing rallies in Lahore?? I just do not understand what is going on? Why do they not concentrate and make KPK a better place was that not the reason why they were elected for? Why are they causing trouble in lahore? I think PTI is an enemy of pakistan.
They have caused more trouble since coming to power in KPK and have caused more losses than gains. They say we stand for change? What change?? They are making things worse.
On the Truck Driver's business thingy: Shame on all those who think feeding the Forces attacking us is big business!!! They are already going in less than a year, then who will feed your oh so poor TRUCK DRIVERS!!! ???
Where to Go Imran Khan! The People are with you!!
If people do not join, they will suffer.
The rants by PTI trolls are quite amusing. They should first take a course on Basic Economics before politicizing economy!
I have seen people use power, abuse power, misuse and then lose power. Beware Sharifs, your days are now numbered.
Thanks Imran Khan u r the Real asset for Pakistan
PML-N has failed to stop drone attacks as well as curbing sectarian violence. Now NS is meddling in the affairs of institutions. Same old mentality which has caused him a lot but nothing has been learned from past.
IK is playing the role of real opposition. Long Live IK and his tahreek. We are with u.
I seriously can not believe people are actually supporting PMLN. PTI haters, instead of just saying, 'PTI will ruin KPK; I made a mistake by voting for them; IK plays dirty politics', why don't you give us some facts and figures which do the real talking? This article and the fact that PMLN used the LHC to stop reviewing of votes by making silly excuses just plain proves how corrupt PMLN is! And that's just the tip of the iceberg, PMLN is no less than the PPP.
LOL at the anti PTI comments here. Before elections, when PMLN were taking out rallies and threatning long marches, did you guys feel the same way about PMLN? Height of Hypocrisy!!
I love to see PMLN panicking.
Mian Sahib what happened to the change that you promised?
@Tabinda
I am ashamed of voting for PML-N. PML-N will ruin Pakistan.
These all are the measures to destablize the country, Instead of any protest the best way is to contact judiciary, rather than hindering economic activities by conducting protest. Imran khan you are a angry old man,, who knows nothing about politics and dialogues,, You only know the confrontation... And believe me confrontationals are acting on the consent and direction of our hidden enemies, who want to turn this country a war ground, like what they did in syria and egypt... So who is right or wrong only judiciray should decide no tamasha on roads.... And as name suggets tsunami,, means only tabahi... "may God keep this country always safe and protected from from its hidden enemies"Ameen.
Sadly PML- N can only excel in dirty politics. They have no clue what it means to run a country. The Shareefs have empires, in the UK, SAUDIA ARABIA, THAILAND and Allah knows where else so they don't really worry about spending money aimlessly. Notice NS, SS, HS and now MS are the only qualified people in the whole of the Pakistan who can run programmes like drying out tsunami and youth loans and the cake on the icing is MR SS the one and only Chief Minister capable of running Punjab. How blatant can nepotism and corruption be. What are Pakistanis doing about this. This sudden awakening of reducing prices is yet another ploy to fool the much fooled Pakistani awam. FOR GOD SAKE WAKE UP PAKISTANIS AND STOP MAKING A FOOL OF YOURSELVES. Imran Khan is your only hope.
PTI is doing its job as Opposition.
If protest mean that people get proper meals at decent prices for a month even then it was worth it.
and given how much time the govt is spending now to control prices that means the fear of protest has worked.
Noora politics of PTI This is politics of 1990 Where is change.
@babloo:
And then the sher roared:
Meoow, meowwwwww, meowwwwww!!!!
@daddy:
I think you are smarter--you can chew the entire Rubik cube in under ten minutes!
Once again proved Punjab = Lahore city only
opposition for the sake of opposition is very bad. Do some constructive opposition.
@babloo:
Opposition does opposition. Dah!!!!
Doing opposition is the easiest thing. And imran is doing the same.
@Tabinda:
Please don't be.. It is Mr.Imran Khan who is ashamed to vote from people like you.
We are with PTI ,as inflation is the main issue .How can a common man stay alive .Will be join in the PTI rally on 22 DEC
@Xnain: "At least these parties know what they wana do, not lost in the middle of nowhere like PTI."
yes you are right they know where to make new sugar mills and how to launder this country's money out of it.
BTW does UK have 2% VAT? What are you confusing now??
Daily monitoring by MPAs.... unsustainable and unrealistic solution. Any ways these actions and reactions show strong commitment from both sides to win hearts and minds of public. PTI seemingly achieving its objective to build pressure on its opponent
prices are controlled from center , not from province , you should know some basics before commenting , if fedral govt increases rates of Raw material and powersector , fuel etc , nothing can be done , you cant sell things on loss @Muslim Leaguer:
I get the feeling that the same PML N supporter is posting under different names. Panic after 7 months-how pathetic is the PML.
Haha i love to see pml n social media team working from model town have just awake changing names and commenting again and again none of u ever voted for PTI and u should see whom the youth with at 22 dec. i wont argue with u guyz logicaly coz that would be a waste of time
Repeat a lie so many times that people start believing...Looking at the comments section it seems they have hired some people,
They say PTI failing in KPK and they won an MPA seat last week. They say PTI is Corrupt People on ground say other things, Watch off the Record two weeks ago they say Dharna will stop investment, ( i need some PHD to understand this logic )
I am writing this although i know ET will not post it, but just to make sure i am proud supporter of PTI and i see its popularity growing in Punjab where i m sitting.
Imran should learn that Gen. Pasha has retired now.
Imran is wasting nation's time. He should stop fooling the nation. PML N is elected by the nation.
@ZINDA: it is the biggest lie to call that prices are reasonably under control, you must belong to high class otherwise life is getting worst every day.........have a look at the price difference
@pmln supporters please take a basic lesson in economics before commenting. Things which are responsible for these price hike ate in control of federal government. Check GST put by the government, that alone has increased the price by 10%, now add the price hike in electricity, fuel etc and you will get the picture.
Today I repent on voting for PTI. PTI has failed.
I see the Noon media cell out in full force. LOL I like it when they compare KPK to punjab, like they know exactly whats going on there. Just because you don't see it in the news, doesn't mean nothing is going on there. FYI price control is job of federal not of provincial. If the federal government can stop printing money maybe prices can be controlled.
IK is wasting epople's precious time.He should do constructive things. Let bring some revolutionary drafts for legislation.Holding rallies is not CHANGE.
@iram: At least these parties know what they wana do, not lost in the middle of nowhere like PTI.
Entire youth is with PML N. PTI should change its politics if they want to compete next elections.
@Haseeb Jamal: At your views, my reply : hahahahah
@Latif: PTI is the worst option for me in the next elections. Whatever PTI is doing, that will not be good for Pakistan's economy. PTI is taking revenge from Pakistanis who did not vote for PTI
@Muslim Leaguer, are we all well aware of the Palaces Sharif's have ? @tabinda, @Umar Usman Ch. There is much more percentage out there in Pakistan repenting their own decision of voting for PML N and i think you are aware of that too.
Lol, I dont think the entirety of Bani Gala is 300 kanals.
Corruption has increased in KPK after PTI has come into power in the province. PTI is a group of corrupt people.
@Tabinda: Next time vote PMLN or PPP and feel proud. These parties served Pakistan for decades and present healthy state of the country is owing to them.
@Affan dawood: VAT is not applied so far in Pakistan. I guess you're mistaking Pakistan with UK.
Its really Ironic that while Price control committees are active in Sindh and Punjab, prices have been left unchecked in KPK.
Qadam Barhao Nawaz Sharif Hum Tumhare Sath Hain. PTI will die soon due to its politics. PTI is ruining KPK because they are giving no attention to the province. My choice is only pml n.
@Omer: There is no price drop. Just lies and more lies.
What a shame for PTI for doing politics of dharnas and protests without any logic. PTI is doing politics of 90s. Shame for PTI. Allah bless Pakistan.
Dirty politics of PTI.
I cannot understand politics of PTI. They have started making noise just after 5 months. Prices are reasonably under control. The noise of PTI is not understandable.
ashamed of supporting PML-N same old mentality no changes back in the 90s
No sane man can vote now for PTI. It was my mistake to vote for PTI. Pakistan will not be benefited with this dharna politics. Pakistan's economy is not in good state due to policies of last 14 years. PTI should come forward to support the government. But problem is that PTI is led by an immature person.
@Tabinda: Do you have better option?
Why there is inflation in Pakistan , when u print 942 bn in 7 months , Increasing Electricity tariffs , Increasing Petrol prices , Imposing GST of 17% plus 2% VAT which makes it 19% what do u expect
Imran's politics is harmful for the economy of Pakistan. I hate such selfish politics. I hate PTI.
Nawaz Sharif and his team is trying best to give life to a dead economy. But Imran is trying his level best to destroy the economy. All the moves of Imran will hurt the economy. Due to this Dharna politics, no foreign investment will come to Pakistan. Imran is enenmy of Pakistan.
I am ashamed for voting for PTI. PTI will ruin KPK.
Good to see a vibrant opposition forcing the government to run helter skelter to appease voters. I doubt the hotline will be effective though, it will only generate more calls from disgruntled people tired of the price hike and two-faced Sharifs.
If they can keep rigging at bay, this should be a good contest between 2 democratic forces working in favor of the public.
Trying to fool people again by temporarily controlling price and setting up call centers. Which means the only way forward is an actual opposition rather than a friendly opposition that we had for the past 5 yrs.
If Imran Khan is really serious in anti-inflation he should start from the province where he has his government to set an example for others. But since Imran Khan & his party is not interested in good governance but only to cause troubles for the masses first in KPK (dharnas, blocking roads, destroying the business of transporters and snatching the jobs of truck drivers & conductors etc) and now in Punjab. The Government must not allow these insane smurfs to block roads or destroy the business of the people. In case any business is harmed, the losses must be recovered from Imran Khan by auctioning his 300kanal Bani Gala Palace.
Well done PTI. You've sorted out price hikes before the rally has even started!