Pakistan

Will lead re-election campaign myself if we are deseated from NA: Imran

Criticises MQM, Maulana Fazlur Rehman; says no mafia present in PTI, party elections to be held after LG polls

Web Desk August 04, 2015

A file photo of PTI chairman Imran Khan. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has said he will lead the party’s re-election campaign himself if PTI members are de-seated from the National Assembly.

“I will recommend my party not to return to the assemblies,” he said while talking to media after his party meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday. “I want to make it clear, accept our resignations and I will lead the party’s election campaign myself.”

Imran argued that the government should decide whether it was with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) on removing his party members from NA.

“If our resignations are accepted, we will lead an excellent (re-election) campaign. In fact this is the time…,” said the PTI chairman.

Read: With one voice: Govt, opposition join hands to block move to unseat PTI MPs

The PTI chief criticised both the MQM and the JUI-F for their policies, which were only aimed at defaming his party, and not for strengthening of democracy.

In a rare show of unity, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the main opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Monday had blocked a move to unseat 33 federal lawmakers of PTI for their absence from the lower house of parliament for more than 40 days.

About his stance on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Imran reiterated that after the poll inquiry verdict, the election authority members had no moral authority to remain in office.

A three-judge inquiry commission probing into allegations of systematic rigging in the 2013 general elections rejected last month the PTI's allegations of organised rigging during elections.

Read: Election rigging probe: Inquiry commission rejects PTI’s allegations

Meanwhile, about elections within his party, Imran said polls would be held soon after local government elections were held in Sindh and Punjab.

“The party’s election commission is taking into account all our shortcomings,” he said. “Soon we will announce a membership campaign.”

While rejecting claims there was a ‘mafia’ within the PTI, Imran said every party had groupings, but what mattered was merit.

“We were taking a presentation today to make PTI a merit-based party,” he said. “Party’s new constitution is also being prepared.”

Senior PTI leader Hamid Khan on August 1 had strongly criticised the policies of his party, saying the ‘cronies’ of military dictators had joined the party.

The PTI chief added his party’s constitution gave him the right to choose his own team, adding that membership of anyone who criticiced the party in public would be immediately suspended.

COMMENTS (15)

Imran Qadri | 9 years ago | Reply Imran is literally demanding an NRO from same assembly and government which until yesterday he had been criticizing and conspiring against and wanted to overthrow through illegal and unconstitutional means. He is basically begging that he and his party shouldn't be deseated from same parties whose mandate according to him is completely fake.

Jibran | 9 years ago | Reply Will lead re-election campaign myself if we are deseated from NA: Imran What kind of statement is it? Who else leads the election campaign if not the head of the party?

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Ch. Allah Daad | 9 years ago | Reply PTI will not retain more than ten of its 30 plus seats in by elections. Therefore its very important for Imran to beg forgiveness from nation and stay in assembly for rest of the tenure.

Zahir | 9 years ago | Reply If Imran Khan is successful in dismissing 2013 election commission, it would directly reflect on the results of the election and the Noon mandate. Then, it would automatically mean NS government is an outcome of a thoroughly rigged election. NS is not going to let it happen, and would make sure, Imran Khan is not successful in dismissing 2013 election commission members. Looks like another battle, at least as strong as sit ins, is on its way to happen. Because, Imran Khan is not going to accept the 2013 election commission members to conduct future elections. NS is obviously in trouble.

Blithe | 9 years ago | Reply This bufoon never ceases to amaze us ! Just the other day he was blaming pakistani media for being sell outs because they reported the lie in her CV

sabi | 9 years ago | Reply Bad man always quarrels with his tools. Loser khan losing his friends.

real truth | 9 years ago | Reply IK Sb, what are you and your party members are doing in these "Jaali" assemblies, to begin with??? Had you guys NOT resigned from these assemblies, and then repeated the FACT that you all had resigned over and over and over during those 126 days?

Tahir | 9 years ago | Reply PTI has realized that their stance of fake assembly was mistaken and now appear to be interested in the assembly, therefore Imran Khan should be given a chance to perform in KPK rather than opening another front and wasting all PTI resources and national money on reelections. MQM should try to prove itself big hearted and withdraw this deseating resolution. This is the way to move forward.

Imran Qadri | 9 years ago | Reply Long story short, he is basically begging an NRO from the same government which until yesterday he had been criticizing and conspiring against and wanted to overthrow through illegal and unconstitutional means with the help of some rogue elements in establishment, now he is literally on his knees and don't want other parties to deseat him and his party.

S.R.H. Hashmi | 9 years ago | Reply It is funny Imran Khan should say that if PTI members are de-sated from the National Assembly, he will lead the party’s re-election campaign himself. This is so because the question of de-seating could arise only if PTI members were legitimately seated in the Assembly. By proudly walking out of the National Assembly, calling it all sorts of names, submitting resignations from the Assembly, remaining absent from it for much more than forty days, and by objecting to why their resignations were not being accepted, PTI members have amply demonstrated both by their words and deeds that their resignations were neither forced nor signed when they were, perhaps temporarily, not in full control of their faculties. In these circumstances, the NA Speaker and PML-N and its loyal opposition are making a mockery of the laid down rules and regulations governing the issue of resignations by trying to hush up the matter. Imran Khan also stated that the government should decide whether it was with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) on removing his party members from NA. This again is an absurd point because the matter is not of the type which could be decided by whims and fancies, or likes and dislikes of assembly members. Additionally, it is not a question of removing PTI members from the Assembly – because they are already out by virtue of their valid resignations – but rather a case of PTI trying to sneak into the Assembly using dubious means. If Imran Khan and PTI members were really men of honour as they claim to be, they would stand by their written resignations and not try to sneak into the assembly by availing the offer made to them as a matter of charity by the very people whom they used to call by all sorts of names. Moreover, by taking such a course, they will become part of an inglorious deal made with PML-N and the loyal opposition which would have the effect of involving the august house in an illegal and shameful act and that, too, in the month of August. Karachi

Justice for All | 9 years ago | Reply PTI Chief appears having gone mad. Like Altaf Hussain (MQM), he to should call for opinion polling within his party.

What goes around | 9 years ago | Reply "The PTI chief criticised both the MQM and the JUI-F for their policies, which were only aimed at defaming his party, and not for strengthening of democracy." Mr IK has been strengthening democracy since the last one year, and not defaming others. All other parties should learn from him. Or have they already learnt!!

Najeebullah | 9 years ago | Reply Fight, anger and frustration in every matter, what is wrong with this man?? Cant he solve any problem politely?

Punjabi | 9 years ago | Reply He is a disgrace to the great country Pakistan. He is an egotistic selfish person with an insatiable desire for money, glory and power.

Proud Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply Where are your precious principles and sayings???

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