In the inimitable PTI style
Once again Imran Khan waltzed into Karachi in trademark PTI style; exercising the right to hold a large rally even if procedural technicalities were far from sorted out, pointing out what was wrong with every other party in the city and, of course, how PTI – hand in hand with the Jamaat — would clean Karachi and bring it back to its feet. He also announced, quite interestingly, that he would be back on Dec6 for victory celebrations. Sirajul Haq echoed the sentiments, obviously, adding that Karachi would be so peaceful after they sweep the LG polls that even Altaf Hussain would safe there.
There were reports of ‘re-think’ and ‘overhaul’ in the PTI working machinery after recent poor showings. And while the party has always postured seriously about internal reforms, its election strategy, at least, seems little changed so far. Once again there is hype and overconfidence – sometimes bordering on hubris – during the campaign. During rallies and even going into voting, the party behaves as if it has already won. But despite the visible drubbing at the bye election in Lahore and first phase of the LG polls, it has kept up the strategy for some reason.
One reason is that the party never really accepts its losses. It only admitted its own faults, to a degree, after the recent Punjab LG disappointment. Before that it was rigging, corrupt ECP, complicit judges, disinterested judiciary, etc, but never its own fault. Its campaign manifesto, too, is more about the faults of others than something quantitative in terms of what it might bring to the table. In terms of serious law-making, where it could have helped with much needed electoral reforms, etc, the party itself has never shown much interest. It is advised to first fit-in and perform inside the system, like all the others. And if or when it does manage to win the approval of the public, it can fine-tune whichever laws and rules it feels necessary within the mandate.