‘PTI’s JACKPOT!’

A political jolt hit the city as Javed Hashmi, former vice president Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, announced to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf on Saturday. While several PML-N members, mostly new affiliates, shifted their guns to the ‘well reputed’ Hashmi, the general public overall appreciated Hashmi’s decision considering his clean political career.
A noticeable partition was felt amongst the members of PML-N, as the comparatively junior members of the party decided to have a go at Hashmi, while the senior members who had spent more time with him were hesitant on passing comments on the one who critics call “one of the cleanest man Pakistani politics”.
On the other side the public tended to stick with Javed Hashmi on his earthshaking decision.
Umer Suhail Zia Butt said this was not expected from a politician of such calibre. He said Hashmi left the battle just when it was about to end. He said if Hashmi had some reservations against the party he should have expressed them.
Ch Abdul Ghafoor, Minister Food said it was not a big issue. He said such people join and leave parties and it is a routine matter in big parties like PML-N. Ghafoor was of the view that Hashmi should have not done such a thing especially since he had grown old.
He said Hashmi had killed his own political career by joining the party of establishment.
“He has ruined his own image, I seriously have no regrets,” he added.
Khawaja Salman Rafique said Hashmi was an irreplaceable asset of PML-N. He said Hashmi was one of the greatest commanders of PML-N’s force. He said he had always stood up against dictatorship and that he regretted Hashmi’s resignation.
Rafique said they tried their fullest to convince Hashmi but it seemed that he had already taken his decision. “It was very saddening, he was like family, some of us even had tears in our eyes”, he added.
Meanwhile, leader of the opposition in Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz congratulated Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on the exit of Javed Hashmi from PML-N. Riaz said with the exit of Hashmi, Shahbaz and Nisar’s opposition within the party had vanished. He predicted that Shahbaz Sharif’s performance would drive others out also. Chaudry Shujaat wished Hashmi a better future on joining PTI. He said Hashmi would finally get a position that he deserved. He said Hashmi was a man of great calibre but was sidelined by PML-N. He said he had great relation with Hashmi and prayed that he stays happy where ever he goes. The youth on the other hand applauded Hashmi’s step.
Aisha Qadir said, “Javed Hashmi the cleanest guy in Pakistani politics has joined the tsunami”.
Ali Hameed said Makhdoom Javed Hashmi’s induction was not just an addition of a ‘person’ but of a complete institution full of dignity, principles, political wisdom and sound struggle for democratic uplift in Pakistan.
Ahmer Bilal, another citizen said, “PTI just hit a jackpot.”
Usman Khan said Hashmi’s addition nullifies the controversies of Establishment’s support to PTI and that the Sharif brothers had failed politically and should learn a lesson. He speculated that Haneef Abbasi was next.