Reality and promises are poles apart
All eyes have been cast on the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), the dark horse in the upcoming general elections, on whether it shall deliver on its rhetoric of change. Some suggest that how the PTI conducts itself in the election race itself shall be a good indicator for the times to come. And for those observing the PTI hit the election trail, there has been little fodder for those looking for a new political tradition being created on the campaign trail. Continuous negotiations, seat adjustments, pre-electoral alliances and patronage-based vote bases are emerging as the campaign gathers pace.
While the PTI Chairman Imran Khan has come out claiming that his party will not make an electoral alliance with any political party, he continues to meet the Jamaat-i-Islami leadership, the Nawab of Bahawalpur, Sheikh Rasheed and develop an understanding with Pir Pagara over fielding Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Sindh. If nothing, it just reeks of one man interested in getting into the seat of power one way or another, without changing much on the ground.
The significant infighting with the party over the issue of election tickets, with the elected Lahore president Aleem Khan having threatened to return the tickets, has also raised concerns over the maturity of the PTI’s internal processes. But more disturbing comes the PTI senior vice president Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s decision to contest elections from Sindh independently with the blessing of the Pir Pagara. The election will not be fought on the strength of Qureshi’s work in the area but the shared ‘spiritual heritage’ with the most influential Pir of Sindh. What remains is his promise to field younger candidates below the age of 35 years of age. The PTI, to its credit, has launched a special fund, the “New Pakistan fund,” for its new candidates and money is being raised money from overseas Pakistanis. Whether it actually goes to new candidates and what the effects shall be is awaited.
There was a time when Imran Khan promised that one chooses “electables and alliance politics for power while our (the PTI’s) politics is to usher a change in the country.” The polls were to be won “on a wave of change.” But now the same Khan has put all his eggs in negotiating alliances, fielding electables and even seeking our Pirs. So much for the slogan of change, if the PTI is to follow the very same policies and tactics that they stood up against. Those who have looked to the PTI to usher in change are certainly having second thoughts when witnessing the pushing and shoving to win elections. It appears that while Imran Khan continues to toe the line that the “masses support him,” on the field, he is becoming a true politician. Whether that is to be cherished or not is not for us to decide.
i think sir what ever you mention is based on bias if u look on total list of candidates of PTI then u will learn that what is the difference of other party in it. nawaz and shehbaz sb both were sitting with marvi memon a musharaf spokeperson andtelling us that they will make pakistan better, how can we belive them imran is better than them and also than zardari.
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