Big names in close contact with Imran

By
anjum
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50
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Mesmerised with the popularity of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), politicians unhappy with their respective political parties are in close contact with PTI Chairman Imran Khan, but are reluctant to take a final leap to join his party. A PTI source told Pakistan Today on Sunday that several leading politicians from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and the PML-Quaid (PML-Q) were in touch with Khan. “Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Salim Saifullah, Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, Senator Jamal Khan Leghari, Khawaja Khan Hoti, Rana Nazir Ahmed and many others are in touch with Imran Khan and would join us at the right time,” said the source, adding that some former parliamentarians including Marvi Memon and Khurshid Kasuri were also in contact with the PTI chief.
“Though Marvi Memon is also mulling her options to launch her own party, she is also in touch with the PTI leadership. Many more are in touch through common friends and we welcome all on board,” the source said.
The source said former foreign minister Qureshi was so interested in the PTI that he had sent thousands of his supporters to attend Imran Khan’s rally at Minar-e-Pakistan and even paid for their transport from Multan. He said the parliamentarians willing to join the PTI had told Khan that since they were members of the parliament, they could not switch parties immediately. “However, they have told Imran Khan that they would resign from parliament if he asked them to do so,” added the source.
Former ministers:
According to a report, 14 former ministers, including Jehangir Khan Tareen and Ishaq Khakwani, also expressed their intention to join the PTI. Tareen, former minister for industries, production and special initiative, said on Sunday that he had informed Imran Khan about other members of his group who were willing to join the PTI.

They include Awais Leghari, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Ishaq Khakwani, Jamal Leghari and Sardar Tufail. Most of the 14 former ministers had been members of the PML-Q. They said they would formally announce their loyalty to the PTI after Eidul Adha.
No Opportunism: Another PTI leader said that his party was not banking on opportunist parliamentarians, and rather a new cadre was being searched to replace the country’s existing political leadership. “Although former parliamentarians Mian Azhar, Noor Mohammed Khan Bhabha, Tahir Rashid and others have already joined the PTI, the decision to award party tickets will be taken by a party board after thorough discussions and considering ground facts,” the PTI leader said. The source said that in addition to parliamentarians, Iftikhar Jhagra, Sardar George Faisal Zaman, Sardar Yousaf Ayyub and Parvez Khattak and several other politicians from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were willing to join.
PTI Additional Secretary Saifullah Khan Niazi also confirmed that several parliamentarians were in contact with Imran Khan, but the party was not in a hurry to bank all of them. “We would welcome the newcomers, but our ideological workers are our main asset. South Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are the key areas from where strong politicians are contacting Imran Khan to join the party. People would see major surprises in November, as a number of politicians will join the PTI this month,” Niazi said. He added that the newcomers would include current and former parliamentarians, and former ticket-holders of major political parties called ‘electables’.
When asked if those newcomers would include leaders from the PPP, PML-N and PML-Q, Niazi said such people were in the ‘pipeline’ and their PTI membership would be announced accordingly, as Election Commission’s rules prevent members to switch party affiliation. “They will make the announcement when and if needed,” he said without revealing the names of parliamentarians who were planning to join the PTI. He said ‘key electables’ were in contact with the PTI chief and other leaders either directly or through mutual friends, however he refused to disclose their names.

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50 COMMENTS

  1. WORD OF CAUTION for the youth of Pakistan.
    In the months and a couple of years leading up to 1967 almost the same atmosphere prevailed. Late President Ayub Khan returned to power with an election which had been technically rigged. He had defeated Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah with the votes of the BD (Basic Democracy) member. Most of these members numbering approximately 80,000 plus had promised to vote for Fatima Jinnah but changed sides at the eleventh hour and voted for Late Ayub Khan. The masses were very unhappy with the late president. In came Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (ZAB), a charismatic and a flamboyant leader who had opposed an accord reached with India in Tashkent USSR.
    Pakistan People's Party (PPP) was born in Lahore in 1967 with ZAB its Chairman. The youth was very happy that we have a forwarding looking leader. PPP had lost general elections held in 1970. (Pakistan) Awami League won the national elections. PPP refused to sit in the opposition and East Pakistan became Bangladesh. PPP came to power in what was left of Pakistan.
    Exuberance of youth was lost very soon mainly because PPP was configured around the personality of one man i.e. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. ZAB’s capable and sincere party colleagues either left him one by one or were made to leave one after the other. PPP became an autocratic party where people gathered around their self-interest. This was a theme and culture existing within the political parties before PPP and the youth of the day were hoping for a change; a change that never came.
    WILL THE YOUTH OF TODAY NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AND ASK IMRAN KHAN TO COME UP WITH AN EFFICIENT TEAM. IF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IT WILL NOT BE LONG THAT THE OLD CLASS WILL RESURFACE UNDER THE BANNER OF PTI.
    THIS WILL BE ANOTHER LOSS TO PAKISTAN.

    • you have pin pointed very well main problem i-e stay away from opportunistic electable that will flock in due to popular rise of PTI (still to be seen if it converts to Votes) . But I am little dispapointed at the inclusion of people such as Mian Azhar, is this the real change Imran Khan wants to bring. Mian Azhar was main dealer that bowed to Musharaf pressure and created a King party PML Q.

  3. people change their affiliations. In the absence of choices, people make affiliations. Now, Ik is on the menu and its a new fresh choice. Like many of us, who now see hope in IK, there can be many political 'electibles; who may see a ray of hope in IK.

    we are using terms like turncoats without knowing what that means.

    closing yourself to other Pakisanis is not the way forward. you are preaching change Pakistan. It will come by chnaging Pakistanis. On ePakistani at a time. If you close doors, for other who want to join you, just think where it will take you.

    Ask your parents who they supported before there was IK. My parents voted N. Now my entire family is looking to vote IK. does that mean they are turncoats. Should I close my doors to them.

    Please learn to welcome every Pakistani. Remember, changing Pakistan is all about changing Pakistanis. When they change, they will come and join IK. Please make it sure that when they want to change, they find our door open. Lets welcome them with open arms.

  4. Come one, come all! Yep, a revolution right here..decalred your assets recently? No corruption allegations against this lot? And what can one say of SMQ> the guy didnt let the womens bill pass through recently..I wonder if PTI's own supporters have read PTI's manifesto and seen the contrdiction between whats written in it, and the views of peoples whose names is often associated with PTI. How about PTI give the "Youth" a chance or are they only useful to fill up rallies?

    • Very well summed up everything in there. I am also supporting PTI, but have same questions you raised. And it may drive me away from PTI when elections come. Imran Khan should not indulge into "Maslehat ki Siasat" and see that these points are raised at many many forums by his supporters.

  5. PTI be very careful in selection! No lota any more!! Imran Khan and his team needs to be very vigilant. Try new faces with track record of integrity – we don't need more of the same. New faces, new thinking, new ways of governing! Old systems have been tried tested and wasted.

  6. As far as old politicians are not corrupt, they should be welcome in PTI. We dont need to be too and unjustifiable rigid.

    To be wealthy is not disqualification but corruption is.

    • yup we need to maintain a balance on electables and party vote bank. 70% of population live in villages and they don't think as we may think.
      So cleam politicians should be welcomed in party.

  7. Well done guys keep hammering in the message. Thanks

    "WILL THE YOUTH OF TODAY NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AND ASK IMRAN KHAN TO COME UP WITH AN EFFICIENT TEAM. IF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IT WILL NOT BE LONG THAT THE OLD CLASS WILL RESURFACE UNDER THE BANNER OF PTI.

    THIS WILL BE ANOTHER LOSS TO PAKISTAN."

  8. "WILL THE YOUTH OF TODAY NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AND ASK IMRAN KHAN TO COME UP WITH AN EFFICIENT TEAM. IF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IT WILL NOT BE LONG BEFORE THE OLD CLASS WILL RESURFACE UNDER THE BANNER OF PTI.
    THIS WILL BE ANOTHER LOSS TO PAKISTAN."

  9. i only have one thing to say that if old members join hands with ppp its democracy,if they join hands with pml(n) its reconciliation and if clean politicians join pti they term it as Musharaf baqiat or lotas?thats utterly unfair because not every politician in this country is corrupt or dont have love for pakistan,i think one needs to look at the bigger picture before they start making judgements

  10. Why don't you people understand that Imran Khan need people with political experience as well as people who can win their seats in Rural Pakistan where political dynamics are entirely different from that in Urban areas where youth is supporting Imran. People mentioned in this article have a relatively cleaner record and are of good repute and are important for him to challenge other established parties as well as breaking their men away. He needs alliance with such people but at his own conditions and since he is the lead man, he will have the power to get rid of them whenever he wants. He doesn't know everyone and there aren't many people of good repute who can help him win an election. I say, let people like Shah Mahmood Qureshi join the party so he can emerge as a national leader rather than just another party in the Parliament.

    • Yes, but he should only maintain contact with them so long as they only have an advisory role, and even then their advice must be taken with a grain of salt.

  12. Imran must be cautious and should not destroy the hopes of youth. We have to preserve the ideology and manifesto. These people are oppurtunists and at some point may ditch PTI and Imran Khan

  13. Imran Khan has always been the military's front runner. He is a charlatan who'll safeguard the establishment…..power isn't given to you lest you snatch it from the jaws of sharks.

  14. jo insaaf ki kasooti per poora uterta hai us ko lay lena chahye uper say farishty nahi ayin gain after all they got ecperience and imran got vision

  18. Of course they are. But as i`m sure Imran Khan is aware, these are power hungry, corrupt men who change sides to the winning party. These lotas have no loyalty, and in any case, it is because the people want to get rid of these people that they have decided to opt for Khan in the first place. Imran Khan should bring in qualified economists, doctors etc to take charge of ministries if he gets elected, a fresh wave of people with integrity, and little regard for self-accumulation. Only way forward.

  19. hahahah..now its become anti imran nd pro imran…im very clear abt it ..i know most politions want to join PTI..as thy knew upcoming goverment is of IMRAN KHA…nd im very clear tht IK will nt take corupt politions in his party or can say my party……….because im also the member of it………..IK will built a new nd clean party INSHALLHA..we as a party belive in it………..we as a party workers nd members of ISf strugle alot to built party where it is….IK will nt let tover take party by existing politionsss

  21. Imran Khan has struggled hard for this CHANGE for the last fifteen years He has full faith in almighty Allah and would not let his well wishers down. He predicted much before October 30 Minar-e-Pakistan Jalsa that once the politicians realized that CHANGE is coming they will join PTI. His other forecasts regarding Accountability of corrupt politicians and revival of collapsed economy will also inshallah come true

  22. OBVIOUSLY HE HAS TAKE FROM THIS COUNTRY WHERE ONE IS CLEAN ..BUT WE HOPE UNDER LEADERSHIP ALL HAVE TO ACT UNDER LAW…AND THESE PPL ARE HAVE CLEAN REPUTE

  25. PTI MUST MAKE SURE THAT NO LOTA IS IN THEIR FOLDS, IF A LOTA IS TAKEN THEN REST ASSURE HE WILL DITCH IMRAM KHAN. I CAN SEE ONE ODD IN THE LIST LIKE RANA NAZEER.

  26. PTI Should not Take there “lottas”… new Blood should be taken…
    Honest young Blood is Required and is the need of time….

  29. Mian Azhar was made the governor of Punjab during the tenure of PML N government yet he betrayed the very party and changed his alliances. Such person induction in the PTI must raise concern of the credibility of Imran Khan and his followers.

  30. Aqalmando Imran khan ko launch hi isilye kiya hai ki tum apna gussa Fauj aur zardari ki coruption se hath lo.yeh khail Pakistan ke sath 60 years se khela ja raha hai, abhi bhi nahi samjo ge to tumhare pass kuch bhi nahi bachega.

  31. PTI need some clean influencial in rural areas where even people dont know who is Imran Khan. I have full confidence on Imran that he will not let us down. If leadership is good, there will be check and balance.

    PTi will be a combination of new and old.

  32. Thank you all for continuing to give a consistent and a uniform message. Pakistan is country with diverse sub-cultures. The key to success will rest in engaging individuals across these sub-cultural boundaries and make them think like a nation, diverse in its constitution yet thinking in one direction. We all wish you success.

  33. Being a liberal Pakistani ,I have serious reservations about Imran Khan's soft corner for the extremists.He never blames them for anything which gives me the impression that he will end up making Pakistan a terrorist state with economic sanctions.

  34. The parties executive committee should decide.Those people mentioned are mostly honest.But before they are included in the party they should be told straightaway that there is going to be no Jargirdari Nizam any more.May be the weaklinks will run away.

  35. inshallah pakistan tehreek-e-insaf he iss dafa win kary ge,i,m hassan ali bajwa and i,m a big big big big voter of imran khan
    0331 6107054

  36. only those politicians who are clean and have no history whatsoever with regard to corruption and proven as reliable should be taken into PTI.

    PTI and Imran Khan can choose who they want, They must choose wisley, The future of Pakistan depends upon it!

    Stand up for Pakistan, Or Get the Hell out of the way!

  37. All the recent Politicians are not corrupt, So If Visionary Cream from them wishes to join PTI, We ‘ll welcome them. If Allah has shown them the right path and they are willing to join, then nothing is better than it.
    because following the Right Path is everybody’s right.

  40. I wish PTI bring a real strong Islamic revolution(inkilaab). I do’nt think that “Only changes in the old system” will make a BIG difference.I Wish Pakistan and it’s people best if luck.

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