Hashmi challenges Qureshi to contest Multan by-polls against him
The statement by Hashmi came a few hours after PTI announced its decision to boycott by-elections in NA-149 Multan-II, the seat vacated by Hashmi after he resigned from the National Assembly. By-polls in the constituency are scheduled for October 16.
Earlier in the day, Qureshi hinted at collusion between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Hashmi when it came to the by-polls in Multan. After resigning, Hashmi announced that he would contest elections as an independent candidate.
“There is no official nomination by PML-N yet. The party [PML-N] should nominate someone and if the ballot paper doesn’t have the party symbol then we can assume that back-door negotiations have been taking place,” Qureshi claimed.
In response, Hashmi, while talking to media representatives in Multan, said, “Shah Mehmood Qureshi should resign from his seat in the National Assembly and contest elections against me.”
“I never considered Shah Mehmood Qureshi as my rival,” the PTI president said about his fellow PTI leader who also hails from Multan.
“I will submit my papers for the by-elections in NA-150 tomorrow,” he added.
“We can form an election commission of Qureshi’s choice in Multan to overlook by-polls if he fears rigging,” the PTI president, who had a recent fallout with party chairman Imran Khan, added.
Despite the fallout, Hashmi still maintains the position of party president.
However, earlier today, Qureshi responded to Hashmi’s insistence that he is still the president of the party by asking him to join other PTI leaders on their container and ask PTI workers whether they recognise him as their president or not.
Hashmi’s resignation from his NA seat and his suggestion to Qureshi to resign from his seat as well, follow the PTI’s decision to resign from the assembly as part of their campaign to ouster the incumbent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government. However, Hashmi is the only PTI lawmaker whose resignation has been accepted by the NA speaker.
Qureshi and Hashmi both contested elections from the PTI seat during the general elections in May 2013. Qureshi was elected a Minister of the National Assembly from NA-150 while Hashmi was voted into the assembly through NA-149 -- both constituencies in Multan.
Qureshi, as a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party was defeated in the 1997 general elections by Javed Hashmi, who belonged to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz then. However, he won subsequent elections to the National Assembly from Multan in 2002 and 2008. In the 2008 elections, Hashmi won a record three seats out of the four contested; he only lost out to Qureshi in his home city of Multan.
Fallout with party leadership
“Imran Khan is a simple man; he has been sent as a source to take the country forward but those with him are using him for their own means,” Hashmi said.
“Even Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahirul Qadri is being used,” he added, while expressing concern over who will guide the youth and take the country forward when both these leaders are being used.
“Yesterday the dharna went to Karachi, tomorrow it will go to Lahore and then Multan,” he said, adding, “I support this way and it is your (Imran’s) democratic right.”
“If you adopted these ways, I would have walked besides you,” Hashmi said in a direct reference to Imran Khan.
Terming the PTI chairman as his younger brother, Hashmi claimed that the nation will not forgive those who are “using” him.
“The economy has been destroyed because of the sit-ins,” Hashmi said, adding that Imran had assured me that he will not launch a civil disobedience campaign but went ahead and did it.
COMMENTS (16)
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A born feudal, professional Pir, and Bhutto slave has no chance against Hashmi. He would not dare in fact no PTI wouuld dare contest against Hashmi who is a Titan compared to Qureshi Lota. Out of all PTI members only Hashmi resigned and that is why by elections are taking place. PTI is afraid to show their popularity or lack thereof.
Hashmi is a sane guy who tried to put some sense to PTI. Unfortunately, they are destined to become like PML(Q).
Hashmi has gone totally senile and bonkers. What does he want to prove and whom does he want to prove. He should know that he has no utility anymore. Maybe Nawaz, a spent force now, may need him to hold his hand or ...
Why hashmi is so much sure of success?
Hashmi is a spent cartridge he is trying to become relevant in the sea of irrelevance. He should call it quits to save his dignity.
Hashmi has lost his credibility. He belongs to NOWHERE.
If contesting elections were a viable theme for PTI, they would be out there participating in by-elections on all the seats they resigned from. Mr Hashmi is trying to project this image of a pristine democrat by taking part in yet another election. Yet what he's actually doing is contesting from his home seat like every feudal lord has ever done. He's not really a democrat, but just another permanent antique belonging to the parliament.
Politicians of Multan are and will remain immature always and found hungry to act good slaves and changing loyality is matter of what is offered-very strange and shameful.A dead wood Hashmi is being projected to ride again by the media-as usual multanis will become senseless while voting
Minister? Please correct.
PTI should nominate a candidate against Hashmi and try to win. If people are with PTI they will prevail and shut Hashmi up forever, otherwise Hashmi alone will undo PTI at this fragile moment.
Already many sensible member has been expelled or had left PTI , due to entry of seasonal and GRU politicians and now time is coming when GRU politicians will jump like rats from PTI drowningship !
Difference of opinion is not tolerated in the name of party discipline and even an elected party president is kicked out But at the same time corruption is very much tolerated and not even any district president has been kicked out because of it yet. Its a shame and bad for democracy.
PTI's mission is much bigger. It's creating Anarchy and destruction of economy. It has no time for small adventures.
What Hashmi Sb have done can't be undone and just for that youth of Pakistan will never forgive him. Imran is the only way going forward and inshallah will restore the respect and honour of Pakistan in the eyes of West and in the Islamic world. Just watch his interviews to different international channels on dailymotion, they oozes the personality of a leader which Pakistan was crying for after Jinnah's death.
Hashmi is head and shoulders above Qureshi. Just one act of Hashmi outweighs the entire political career of Qureshi. That one act is of resisting the tyrant Musharraf and choosing prison in place of apologizing to the despot. In living memory, at his tremendous personal sacrifice, no politician has stood so bravely for principles like Hashmi. Sir, I salute no other person in Pakistan but only you.
wished IK has listened to hashmi more than quershi. Hashmi is a man of principle. Quershi has no principle. He will leave IK as soon as he find another better party. IK has been doomed by Quershi, Jahenger Tareen, Sheikh Rasheed and now CHoudary Bro's.