Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s tortuous journey in its 18 years of existence. PHOTO: PPI
Today, PTI occupies majority of the seats in the provincial assembly, and is in power with the support of other political parties. Facing immense resistance from various quarters, PTI’s founding leaders say they have to work even harder to change the system they are a part of.
While speaking to The Express Tribune, Yousafzai said besides him, the founding members included Zahid Mohmand, Tahir Umarzai, former K-P Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani, Ammad Sherpao, Jamal Afridi, Dr Afzal and others.
“Simply put, we would face problems welcoming the party chief with such a small number of workers,” said Yousafzai, “Today, we are barely able to deal with the crowds coming from every corner of K-P and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.”
Imran Khan had a dream of changing the system and the journey began with 16 players, said Yousafzai. The minister shared that by watching things being brought onto the right track and promises being fulfilled, he thinks the long-standing dream is now starting to be realised. With the improvements in health and education, the country is a witness to what PTI has achieved in less than a year of governance in the province, he added.
“People would laugh at our strength, since we were few enough to be counted on their fingertips,” said Tahir Umarzai, the first senior vice president among the founding members. “Today, they are becoming a part of our journey, which still has a long way to go before all the goals we had envisioned 18 years ago are brought to fulfillment. People voted for us to deliver, and deliver we will.”
“Imran Khan had a dream of bringing together honest people,” said Samad Mursalin, who contested last year’s elections against the party’s candidate. “But along with trustworthy individuals, some insincere ones have also become part of the movement, which, I fear, may stigmatise PTI.”
Mursalin added that a number of loyal party members have been sidelined and others brought in with no merit. That, he said, is what led him to revolt and contest against the PTI candidate during by-polls in NA-1, Peshawar.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 26th, 2014.
COMMENTS (24)
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Let me correct some people; IK born with a gold (not silver) spoon in his mouth, dedicated whole his life for Pakistan. Never been introduce in any country as a corrupt politician (especially 10%). Never made any plea (contract WITH 80 suitcases) for his life. Did not came into power with big big rigging!! NS get 8000 votes from a village where total registered votes were 1500. Great work NS!!
Currently more than 34 important Federal Govt Departments working without Directors. Countries runs with departments not with family league. Open your eyes and look at the facts not at your interests and pockets.
Hold your breath its just matter of time when a new Pakistan will be build by IK-PTI.
The man was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and sent to UK for education. Never worked for a living in his entire life even after retirement or raising his own kids. Living of other people's money and well in his sixties still behaves like a spring chicken.
@Omer Janjua:
Won by a margin of a few hundred votes! Going by the supposedly stupendous performance of PTI in KPK, this seat should have been won by a margin of at least 50,000 votes.
@Hassan:
You wouldn't need an Einstein to answer your questions, just a regular Joe like me would do the trick.....here it is:
The current PML was formed by the establishment as a counter weight to PPP and other leftist forces in Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif was indeed entrusted by the same elements to head this faction for the sole purpose of keeping a check on PPP and to make sure that Pakistani politics would be always muddled and in a perpetual state of instability due to the fighting of PML and PPP; the ultimate winner would be military establishment which would end up throwing out either government through their president and 58-2(B). Nawaz Sharif became PM and the whole propaganda about bankrolling of 1990 elections was again the work of the establishment and it used a known con artist and person of extremely low characters like Yunus Habib to do its dirty work. Had there been any substance to this laughable episode, Musharraf unturned every stone against Nawaz Sharif and would have had a field day if any evidence would have been found. BB did not even bother to pay attention to this story as well when she was PM between 1993-1996 and it was in the second government of NS that this issue was formally taken up by the SC and the hearings were well under way when Oct. 12 1999 happened. Again it is the dictator which is in the docket. The current government is not going after the people who were in the Musharraf cabinet but only after Musharraf who was the mother of all evils just like Zia-ul-Haq. Just as the members of Musharraf cabinet were not responsible for Oct. 1999, similarly the members of Zia's cabinet cannot be held accountable for July, 1977. PML-N is the second largest Parliamentary group in KPK assembly. Even with the active support of Talibans and other such bandits, PTI still couldn't get a clear majority there.@Unbelievale Thats why we WON from SWAT, PML(N) strong hold. Keep your theories to yourself
@Ch. Allah Daad
Pot calling the kettle black.
Would you like to enlighten us on how PML(N) was formed? how Nawaz Sharif became PM in his first term? and who bank rolled PML(N) election campaign (Asghar Khan case) from national exchequer? It wasn't a treason to be a part of Zia's cabinet in Punjab but it is treasonous when Musharraf did it? Why couldn't PML(N) capitalise on ANP's route as you PML(N) had the support of their buddies LeJ and Shahbaz Sharif openly called on Taliban not to attack Punjab and they heeded.
@ Ch Allah Daad This guys is Pro Muslim League and always utter venom against PTI without any base. Congrats dear you lost in SWAT
Long Live PTI, let haters burn more and more
The news item should also recognize the services of another great man who was indeed a valuable asset for PTI and IK.......Ahmed Shuja Pasha.
And last but not the least, IK should thank Musharraf, General Ethesham Zamir and Tariq Aziz for giving him a seat in charity from Mianwali in 2002. Had IK not made outrageous demands from Musharraf that he should be made PM through a phony and rigged election of 2002, he would have gone on to become a minister in that puppet cabinet instead of just being an MNA.
New is generally good ... in IK's case the public now knows that promised 90 day fixes were rubbish and that many of his promises were nothing but political gimics. I suspect many who voted for him are disappointed and won't be doing so again.
Except recent converts and lota can anybody give five names of PTI leaders who were founding members? PTI has not been in power even for a year but they have forward block. Great parties and leadership talent does not come out after their retirement age. Great leadership, talent and success does not wait this long and it appears from the beginning. PTI won the elections in a small section with TTP openly in their back. It is going to be their last chance and would not get another walkover.
And believe this is NOT the peak for PTI. They will insha Allah go even further.
PTI all the way. Imran Khan the next Prime Minister IA.
Because 95% trust great khan
Well, PTI had its first and last chance to be in power. It benefitted from the complete disappearance of the ANP main core leadership who were too scared to have public appearances. Those of the ANP leaders who made public appearances were killed by the extremists. So, the vacuumed was to be filled and PTI was there and filled it.
The way you are doing politics to appease terrorists and undermining the security of the people of Pakistan, just wait for 4 more years the party will go back from ruling KPK to 16 people.
He should thank Taliban too who forced ANP and PPP voters to stay away from polling stations. He should also thank Man Sahib who allowed him to form government in KP. He also owes thanks to other forces too but saying anything against them is treason these days.
My dear Shaukat Yusafzai joined PTI in 2011. To suggest he is a founding member is like saying "Jehangir Jani the CD actor is the founder of Hollywood" Lies.
A miracle made possible by the agencies! Who are TTPTI trying to fool.