Pakistan

PTI cadres unhappy with Reham’s cameo in poll campaign

Party’s information secretary defends actions of Imran

Qamar Zaman August 10, 2015

PHOTO: SIASAT.PK

ISLAMABAD: Opponents of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) reproached its chief Imran Khan on Sunday for allowing his spouse to campaign for the party’s election candidate in Haripur constituency, even though he has publicly denounced any form of dynastic politics.

Imran Khan had, in his speeches during the 126-day sit-in, censured Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari for their unabashed support of their family members in party politics yet he seems to be adopting the same policy himself.

Insiders said that PTI members were somewhat perturbed by Reham Khan’s new role, which would be difficult to defend. These members also suggested the chairman start attending the National Assembly session as per commitments made when the judicial commission was constituted.

PTI members also expressed concerns when Reham Khan started taking interest in party affairs while Imran Khan remained silent. Opponents as well, are of the view that the PTI has launched family members in politics against its tall claims on the issue in the past.

However, PTI chairman’s spokesperson Dr Shireen Mazari defended the move saying “women must be visible especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) to get women voters out to vote. PTI dharnas gave women confidence politically and Imran Khan’s sisters were visibly part of it.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2015.

COMMENTS (43)

Dija | 9 years ago | Reply Being a staunch supporter of PTI; yes frankly IK has disappointed us in many fronts and seeing Reham in politics is one of them.....wake up PTI and start using your brains pls.....

F | 9 years ago | Reply @javed: But what about her fake degree? Will Imran Khan do another U turn on that?

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faisal | 9 years ago | Reply Dynastic politics mean ur kids inherit ur position, for example if the next PTI boss is his son. A politician or a statesman's wife often plays a role in politics. Thats mot dynastic politics.

Ebaad | 9 years ago | Reply @z I was expecting this kind of a reply. Diverting further and further away from the topic is the best way out when answerless. By the way, another great Pakistani said that the CM of Punjab was no where to be found in Kasur, largely due to the fear of being pelted with eggs and rotten tomatoes and a photo session in such a condition is usually uncalled for. However the MNA of NA-56 was seen in Peshawar within 2 hours of the tragedy.

z | 9 years ago | Reply @Ebaad, Rip logics. There is no solution to ignorance. Let me quote here one of a great Pakistani: "The ones who are trolling here needlessly are the same folks who were dancing while their spiritual father was enjoying his secret wedding amidst the death and destruction at APS on 16th December, 2014. The MNA from NA-56 was needed in Peshawar then but he chose to lay the foundation of his "NAYA KHANDAAN." Please stop hiding behind Pak Army and do not make it controversial. Thanks

Vak | 9 years ago | Reply Politics is far more than meets the eye. To be fair to Reham Khan , she has raised three kids as a single parent, worked with top tv channels of Pakistan without formal education, married Imran Khan and other great stuff that she has done. Keeping in view her genuine struggles , it would have suited her more had she lived happily in the sanctity of being wife of Imran Khan, after all what else a single parent want more than a strong & supporting partner? PTI & Pakistan would respect her far more had she opted a more graceful course after she was already granted the greatest success a woman can hope for. I do not write any of this as a back handed strike at her credentials. My purpose of bringing these qualities of her to the fore is to review her present venture into politics in retrospect & to give fair credit where it is due. Us Pakistanis did not know who she was before Azadi March transitioned into Dharna. I saw her in exactly two shows on Ary during dharna days, one as a guest to Kashif Abbassi's dharna special transmission & 2nd time with Mubashir Lucman. I am an avid follower of veteran anchors on TV and I could not understand or keep up with what she would say on the shows she was featured on so I never could understand why anchors called her or gave her importance when she lacked the ability to speak or connect to the audience in a clear , concise manner. While we all have our flaws, my greatest disappointment with her, as the wife of PTI chief, has been the fact that despite such high accolade to her personal profile, she has shown to remain incapable of connecting to the audience on her trophy show on Dawn tv. She continues to belittle her post, as the wife of perhaps one of the most watched-out leaders on the planet, on her twitter timeline and instead of rising to the occasion to reach the hearts & minds of People of Pakistan, she continues to preach to them, as if they have brains the size of peas, about her supposedly higher "intellect" & "virtues". These antics and her crass maiden speeches , have left a massive hole in the credibility of the entire PTI team including its chief. If ironies could teach us any lessons, they would have required the wife of PTI chief to give Kulsoom Nawaz a real big run for her money.But if ironies are to be trusted with all of their ugliness, then one would remember the rise of an outsider Asif Ali Zardari , in the ranks of Bhutto dynasty and PPP. Even when we take a mean of these three realities, we arrive at the same conclusion that politics is for more than what meets the eye. When a national leader at 63, marries at the helm of a national tragedy, it is completely for politics than the need of life partner. However now we must ask, "Whose politics?"

Ebaad | 9 years ago | Reply @z On a second thought, the country in effect really is being ruled by a visionary leader; his vision is to clean the mess created by the two parties ruling the country for the last 3 decades. He is a Shareef (a true Shareef) but he is certainly not Nawaz or Shahbaz. Speaking of shortcuts to becoming PM, you just reminded me of the Asghar Khan case.

Ebaad | 9 years ago | Reply @z Your last sentence sums it up. Visionary! After having ruled a province almost uninterrupted for nearly 25 years we have examples of Model Town, petrol shortage and the latest of Kasur incident, please spare the horror of such vision. God help Pakistan if such vision does materialize.

z | 9 years ago | Reply @Ebaad, There are so many answers to what you are quoting here. Similar things can be found for many other countries including your neighbouring ones. I can provide a list here comparing finance and infrastructure and other departments with last 10 years stints, where present government has successfully delivered. But without being judgemental and prejudiced, if we let the democracy nourish in our country, we can cope with these issues piled up in last 70 years. This can only be possible if our politicians stop relying on third umpires and refrain from looking for short cuts to become PM. Thank God we have a visionary leadership ruling the country. Pakistan Zindabad

Ebaad | 9 years ago | Reply @z: That’s exactly why you feel pride over a reason for being ashamed. Only when you are worried about what’s happening around the world, then you would get to know what your beloved leaders have done to our country. Instead of PTI and IK (your ultimate phobia) shed some tears for the real problems of our country, such as: 1) In the last two years, our country’s literacy rate has dropped (I repeat dropped) by 2%. We now stand at 58% which is among the worst 30 countries of the world. Well offcourse this is no reason for being ashamed for you since you are not worried about the world which has advanced way ahead of us due to advancement in education. Reference: http://tribune.com.pk/story/886027/2013-14-report-literacy-rate-slips-nationwide-by-2/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofcountriesbyliteracy_rate 2) In the last two years, the unemployment rate of our country has reached 8.3%, which is the worst unemployment level since 2001. 1.5 million more people have become unemployed since your beloved PM (the reason for your pride) has taken over the reins of the country. Again it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Right? Reference: http://tribune.com.pk/story/897361/labour-force-statistics-jobless-rate-jumps-to-13-year-high/ 3) Pakistani passport has become the third worst in the world for international travel. But I forgot; why anyone would need a passport when he is not worried about the world. Reference: http://tribune.com.pk/story/823389/pakistani-passport-third-worst-for-visa-free-travel/ These are only a few reasons why you must be proud of your PM. Patriotism much?

Roshan | 9 years ago | Reply I am very disppointed and I would never ever support IK. He has become a traditional Pakistani politician.Alas, IK lost his credibility.

z | 9 years ago | Reply @Ebaad, Dear Sir, Lets not be worried about the world, hand on heart, ask yourself and see an absolutely confused and a loony person is your leader. There are many examples of his failed decisions, unfair suspension of the loyal and honest people from the party, leading the nation toward chaos, failed civil disobedience, shamefully returning back to the fake parliament so on an so forth. Now using a liar partner and using pashtoon card to win an election! wow, what a politician. So better following those who repent, learnt from their mistake and leading honestly to develop the country.

Ebaad | 9 years ago | Reply @z: Look around you or ask the world what they think of the reason for your pride. You will be ashamed to say the least.

z | 9 years ago | Reply @Ebaad, Thank you for acknowledging that we deserve proudly NS and not a confused politician. Pakistan Zindabad, PM Paindabad

Ebaad | 9 years ago | Reply @z: Thank God he is not a PM of the country. So you thank God for having had a prime minister like Nawaz Shareef and a president like Zardari? You well and truly deserve what you are getting.

goodDeedsLeadTo | 9 years ago | Reply She is only helping hers husband's cause to change Pakistan & getting rid of the corrupt mafia. She has not sitting on a billion dollar budget like Maryam Nawaz, so you cannot compare it with that. She is not being given any position in the party. In fact, even if she is interested in the position, she will be required to compete like anyone else.

Khaldoon | 9 years ago | Reply @sabi: I am angry because she gets an official security protocol from the kpk government on tax-payers money whilst she is a nobody. I am also angry that this virtual nobody got designated as kpk's street ambassador for children just because she is married to the chairperson of the party in office.

z | 9 years ago | Reply It's hard for PTI trolls to defend another dirty move of their lord once again. No way to avoid such situation for them. A totally confused politician and his followers. InshaAllah, You cannot win Haripur by-election, like you could not in Karachi NA246. No matter whatever card (Pashtu or Hazara languages) etc., you use for this.

Mohammed | 9 years ago | Reply As a PML supporter I am proud of our record on dynastic politics.

jawad | 9 years ago | Reply She is not contesting election even on her paternal consistuency nor she holds any position in the party.Entering in politics and compaiging for someone are separate concept.Same was the case in 2013 election when khan's sisters were compagining for him but that doesn't mean that they will be part of party in future.

Kirankhan | 9 years ago | Reply Actually she is not more than a News REPORTER or Compare. I am no more supporter of PTI after this. Cant see this. THEN IMRAN KHAN!!!!!!! .. DONT BLAME NAWAZ FAMILY AS WELL...

Taimoor | 9 years ago | Reply @nk, When did PTI object to campaign by relatives? But in PMLN and PPP, relatives are given positions/offices w/o merit. They don't just campaign. Please think straight.

Taimoor | 9 years ago | Reply @Manoo, Everyone has the right to take part in politics. You can't dictate anyone. People like you get affected by media, are weak to defend, and then start crying. However, Reham Khan has not even entered politics. She has the right to campaign and she will. If that affects anybody, then be it! If you want Zardari and Nawaz as your leader and you think they can drive Pakistan out of crisis (who put Pakistan into crisis in the first place), go vote for them.

Taimoor | 9 years ago | Reply This issue shows the intellectual bankruptcy of our society, intelligentsia, anchors, etc. This involves some PTI insiders as well and of course many supporters. Family politics is treating a party as your personal property and thus giving posts/offices/tickets to your relatives w/o merit. This defines PMLN and PPP where party is treated as a personal property of Sharifs and Bhuttos, respectively. Has Reham received any post/office/ticket w/o merit? There is difference between family politics and family support. In established democracies like UK, USA, family and wives take part in campaigns. It is a seen as a good family value. . More power to Reham Khan. She is doing nothing wrong but supporting her husband struggle. She is doing an extra favor on us by jolting this intellectual bankrupt society who has elected thieves again and again yet takes a defected high moral stance when it comes to PTI and IK. IK knows more about merit than armchair warriors and supporters of status quo.

lkhan | 9 years ago | Reply As usual, IK at his best, one set of rules for the rest of the country, and another for himself and now RK. Shame shame shame...

MAQ | 9 years ago | Reply Being PTI supporter, I urge PTI to Refrain itself from family politics. Without saying anything against Reham Khan still I believe the practice of Dynastic politics leads the parties to destruction. Lock at PPP the way it emerged in the times of ZA Bhutto and their position today.

z | 9 years ago | Reply What one should expect from an Immature politician? Thank God he is not a PM of the country.

Daniyal | 9 years ago | Reply I believed in Imran Khan and relligiously followed his entire campaign. I have to admit, the recent turn of events have greatly disappointed me. Bringing in Reham Khan is only adding to the disappointment; IK is going against his own words. Reham Khan should stick to social work using PTI's platform if she so desperately wants to get in PTI.

Ali | 9 years ago | Reply As Mazari said to get women votes, does PTI have only her as women leader.

Iram | 9 years ago | Reply I trust in IK and I'll.

rafe | 9 years ago | Reply This is stupid lady and will demage PTI image. Must stop is lady.

Guest | 9 years ago | Reply PTI is compensating for having agreed in the past to a "No Vote for Women" policy in certain areas of their influence.

Manoo | 9 years ago | Reply IK please wake up. I hope you read these comments. PTI supporters do not want your wife to have any role in the party. It is demotivating to the rest of us who are struggling both inside and outside the party.

Awam n Naas | 9 years ago | Reply Imran Khan has stopped everyone in PTI to say anything against party matters as he knew that there were members inside PTI who were unhappy at Reham Khan's entering into politics.

javed | 9 years ago | Reply Mr Haider very soon she will be your MNA and minister.

sabi | 9 years ago | Reply @Haider: you are angry like she has custody of 100bn youth fund……. We don't measure the performance of government or the institutions with pti yard stick but on accepted international norms of governance.If anything goes wrong we will let you know on this space.

sabi | 9 years ago | Reply @Haider: No I'm absolutely not angry for her taking part in party campaign or actual politics but on the duplicity of character of her leader- and you know what.

nk | 9 years ago | Reply despite this, the lost PTI followers will find some way to defend this move. Sure she's not running for a seat, but this is what dynastic politics are. That your family members, simply by virtue of being family members, get a privileged status in the party. Reham was nowhere an year ago, now she's at the top of the chain of command. This is the very definition of dynastic politics. Bilawal doesn't have a seat in parliament yet, but the problem we all have with him is that he's in charge not because of his experience but because he is a bhutto. So how is Reham and PTI any different now? Ah yes some people will use an excuse that a "first lady" can campaign for her husband. But then so can children, husbands, parents, so atleast stop being hypocritical. Either say you PTi is like al other parties, or if its not, then admit that PMLN and PPP are not in the wrong either.

Haider | 9 years ago | Reply @sabi Is she contesting?? you are angry like she has custody of 100bn youth fund.......

Gul Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Hypocravy! Hypocricy! is what the policy of Imran is. Even only last year Reham Khan was not even a member of the PTI. Now, by virtue of her relationship to Khan she is the second in unofficial hierarchy of the party. Khan had condemned the family hierarchy in Pakistani politics but now doing just the same as others. He condemned PML (N), PPP, ANP and even mocked Mehmood Khan Achakzai for bringing his family members in their parties but he is doing the same now. Shame, Shame. I don't know if my comment would be published?

vicktor d'souza | 9 years ago | Reply Not surprised at all. IK has a track record of spin doctoring what he says and actually does. A long, long, long history...Some might call it hypocrisy, but others: 'adjusting to the current realities.

sabi | 9 years ago | Reply A big shame on IK supporters is a must who had crossed every limit of decency defending their god of 'last' hope.

sabi | 9 years ago | Reply This proves once again the mentality- sour grapes.Jealous man.

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