PTI Confusion – by Zainab Qureshi
Between the excitement of PTI’s massive rally in Lahore on 30 October and Imran Khan’s critics, I’m thoroughly confused. My facebook newsfeed is littered with Imran Khan support – it seems like almost everyone I know, young, old, rich, not-so-rich, friends, co-workers, all want to see him in power. I still have my reservations, and several questions, answers to which would certainly help somewhat.
When you vote, you vote in a party – an administration, a system – not an individual. In this case, what’s the party like, beyond the individual? Who is the senior leadership of PTI? Why haven’t we heard more about them? What kind of credentials, experience, potential do his senior members have? Why does the hype start and end at Imran Khan? Personally, I’m not a big fan of the man’s, so where does that leave me? I think he’s too much about the ‘I’ and his own legacy. I wonder, can he be a good team player? An effective leader?
When I vote, I vote for what I believe a party can achieve; not just the promises they make, but some kind of realistic game plan on how to achieve those goals. Although PTI’s manifesto seems fairly comprehensive (albeit highly ambitious), in Imran Khan’s speech, I saw larger-than-life, unrealistic promises. And more than what was there in the speech, I find what was missing worrisome. Where is his economic policy? How does he plan to tackle the most basic problems of this country – inflation, power-shortages, water-shortage, a complete collapse of industry, lack of jobs, general economic decline to the point of bankruptcy? Who is his team of economic advisors? Who will manage fiscal and monetary policy for him? What experience does he – or any member of his team, for that matter – have in this area?
Furthermore, for my own information, I’d like to know who is funding his campaign. Beyond the rumours, what exactly is his relationship with the military? What linkages does he have with the religious right – and to what extent will he cater to them and bend to their demands? Is he really a closet taaliban, or is that just something his critics say? How big a proponent/leader of the ‘ghairat brigade’ is he, really? Where is the evidence to back or refute any of these rumours?
Given the appalling state of our country at the moment, particularly with regard to the mindboggling levels of corruption and the dire economic situation, I’d be willing to temporarily overlook some of these issues; assuming that he is not excessively right-leaning. What I can’t overlook is complete lack of direction as to how the big issues will be tackled, and the lack of a solid team guiding a fairly inexperienced (though seemingly good-hearted) cricketer-turned-politician. Hopefully, between now and the elections, some of these questions will be answered. Comments?
Related posts: Some questions about Imran Khan’s PTI NA-USA LLC – by Ahmed Iqbalabadi
Imran Khan’s financial credibility? – by Ahmed Iqbalabadi
Exactly what i want to know and what i am going through..will definitely be waiting for some answers 🙂
Right u r Zainab Qureshi
Andhon main Kaana raja (A one eyed man amongst the blind) is what explains him for me until he can show what team he has got behind him to make his claims into reality.
Basically and unfortunately we as a nation will have to make an almost blind bet on him and hope that he does measure up to the expectations.
However one must keep the expectations realistic too. In setups like ours, a lot of learning happens on the job (whether you take the examples of Nawaz, Benazir and God forbid Hamza and Bilawal in the future). The prime criteria in such cases thus become the integrity and the aptitude of the candidate on whom you are willing to invest your trust and loyalty. Imran fits the bill on both these criteria better than any other politician willing to play at this level.
Razi
here is imran khan’s team:
1-Abdul Rasheed Bhatti (with 9 cases of murder) 2: Abdul Aleem Khan (Land Mafia head in Lahore)
3. Shahid Akram Bhinder (Musharraf’s law minister from 2002 – 2007 & key actor for use of force against judges & lawyers in 2007)
So we are in safe hands, my dear revolutionary young Pakistan! bravo
Interesting article, remarks and comments. The way things are being said is… as if all other parties have so many bright and brilliant people in them and a vision and a system. If all of them are so great, how come they’ve landed us in this mess?
Probably, Pakistan is the only country in the world, where an out and out crook is not asked anything, but an honest, hardworking and sincere person is taken to task everytime he falters even a slight bit!
Perhaps our country truly deserves the crooks its got on its head!
You don’t want to give Imran a chance, for a few reasons, while you will allow these same crooks to come back again who have already been twice rejected by its people.
No wonder, the names keep exchanging but the output remains the same.
We need a change – otherwise, the results will remain the same!
I’m not saying Imran Khan is the greatest. But I’m just saying, give him a chance, and be supportive. Let us all help him bring the change we all deserve.
There is no dearth of potentiel in this counrty, we just need to get on a progressive track. Let us stop all negativity, and take solid positive steps in the right direction.
At the moment, we will get nothing out of making US into our enemies, but at the same time, we need to hold our own. We’ve all got to find a middle path which is pleasant to all. And specially, for our beloved land of Pakistan.
@Shireen, Imran Khan has been given a chance. In 15 years, he has contested 2 elections and has 1 seat to show for it. He opposed Women’s Protection Bill, supported Musharaf’s dictatorship for 3 years and has been a constant apologist for the Taliban. Its not that we don’t know him. Just because the ISI helped him throw a nice concert doesn’t mean he can solve the country’s problems. By the way, where did he get the money for arranging this rally. Why are you PTI wallas so intolerant about any criticism of this leader of yours.
You keep saying crooks but what proof do you have against President Zardari who went to jail for 11 years! Your leader is only good at throwing dirt on others but his followers and him are useless in accepting any criticsm. Fascism anyone.
How is Imran Khan any different from the rest as he claims to be? He is to deliver ‘justice” ? Yeah right, so does everyone at present.
A look into his team:
“1) Abdul Rasheed Bhatti who has atleast 9 cases of murder and other crimes registered against him. He is known for his notorious activities.
2.Abdul Aleem Khan known land mafia head in lahore who made billions in musharraf era through illegal means.
3) Farooq Amjad Meer- PML Q MPA during 2002-2007close aide to Chaudharies.
4) Zaheer Abbas Khokhar MNA on PPP ticket in 2002 then joined patriots on pressure from musharraf stays in power.
5. Shahid Akram Bhinder – musharraf’s law minister during 2002-2007 and key actor for use of force against judges and their imprisonment”
i dont care about all such rubbish allegations and ruthless propaganda on imran anymore, the fact is, i, along with all my family n friends wiull vote for his candidate, whoever it is……like rubbish PPP jiyalaas vote for “teer” or pmln for “lion”. I dont want idiots running the country who have done so for the past somany yrs, and whilst in power, they still complain of not having “full rights” over democracy. to me, if you cant do it, then go home, pak nation has decided to bring up change, so ppp and pmln supporters, see you in elections!
u say he made unrealistic promises ! jinnah made an unrealistic promise….iqbal saw an unrealistic dream…..we have no right to point on others hopes …..untill we do not have the courage to come out and do more than he is doing for the country
The problem is that if Imran Khan comes to power all the writers on LUBP will either wash dishes or sell choran at Empress market.
Exactly! wait till he hands out ticket to the likes of Mian Azhar, the real face might just be too ugly for many to handle.
I am unable to comprehend this, that all these PTI supporters are not tolerant to listen to some valid questions raised regarding Imran Khan, while they are willing to critisize President Zardari for the allegations they are unable to prove. Where he remained in jail for 11 yrs for the sins that were never proved by the hostile bias courts… Then they critisize the government policies, while they are not completely aware of itz policies, e.g recently pakistan won elections for UN security council,which shows the success of our foreign policy… I don’t want to critisize anyone, I just want you people to ponder and evaluate whether we are being mislead by someone.. We need to realize it to build a better Pakistan and for itz safety….
My fathers generations was supporter of Bhutto, my younger brother wants some role model he doesn’t know about Bhutto for him imran khan is role model. Youth of Pakistan hope that change will come and that hope is given by Imran Khan, because unfortunately youth has lost hope in PPP and PMLN.
We will soon have his team, dont worry, you will not get your term ever again
tell me do PML-N have any leader ship in Balochistan, Fata? sindh?
hahaha
be happy in fools paradise, and dont delete my comment, I would love to argue in healthy and constructive manner
A true- Kaptaan’z lover
well i believe that when we talk about democracy, which in its true essence is disambiguation, then its the number game that counts.
it can never be a one man show, if i give my vote to PTI, what is the chance that he will gain the amount of representation that is necessary to get a simple plea passed.
when we talk about a political party, mind you part, its never a one man show. so i am afraid that considering all the facts what other parties have done to Pakistan, even then my consciousness would hold me back from giving vote to someone who might then just end up as a small party and that too on the opposition benches
So as the famous rhetoric goes, your vote is very important, think before casting 🙂
You are 100% right zainab. There is no one man show in political parties in USA, UK and others where people vote to a party, its vision, its experience, its skills, its team, its constitution, its plans. I don’t know why people here at pakistan had created Imran as hero of pakistan. yet he did nothing in this field.
I don’t think so you are right. you closed your eyes and say we vote for the party in pakistan. Open your eyes mam Where we find the bhoto In PPP, But 4 time winner ppp what they deliver a zardari??? and what about the PML a-z you see any vision???
We see both teams performance by the name of democracy.
We only want One thing CHANGE . Vote for PTI so we can bring change.
Zainab, it’s really good that you have brought the facts about the man who actually want to change the system, but how ? I personally believe he has done good social work stuff? but politics ?
I think people are just stereotype !!
I laugh some times, why need Imran Khan for change? O’people , ” you can’t bring the change in your mohallah’s, colonies, etc..it means you are paralyse”.
CHANGE starts from your own personalities, own homes, own mohallah’s? If Zardari is sitting, it means he showed the middle finger to the whole nation??
Cheers
Where is his economic policy?
How does he plan to tackle the most basic problems of this country –
Who is his team of economic advisors? Who will manage fiscal and monetary policy for him?
What experience does he – or any member of his team, for that matter –
waoooo thousands of Qs we never asked our leaders and other parties whether its their economic policies, their corruption, their experience or even their education because it never matters to us. But all of the sudden we become analyst, we want the experienced people, great policies, short hand solutions when it comes to IK.
Well almost all these Qs he had when he was out for Cancer hospital, I remember even then people regarded him fools in paradise, asked for his policy, experience and team to run the hospital. and we all saw what we have at the end. I myself never believed him until one of my family member (very poor) got full free treatment from Cancer hospital..
If you want to be logical then kindly put all these Qs. to each and every party and then make a decision. otherwise this is nothing but a biased statements of one group to another
Great points raised by writer. A spectacular speech and a big audience do not mean anything beyond the fact that the show was great.
The entire PTI leadership and manifesto still lacks experience, innovation, clarity, perhaps integrity even as the central team of PTI suggests. They are not so different from any other party, in fact they have added disadvantage of having NO experience on how to run a country like Pakistan. If tomorrow, IK becomes Prime Minister, will he be personally overseeing every constituency and ministry to make sure his group of lotas don’t do corruption???? Leadership at top may be clean, but it hardly makes a difference when the leadership BELOW is corrupt.
Another very big negative attached to the PTI dream is how none of the top leadership take the threat of Taliban and extremists seriously. It is not dangerous for Pakistan by itself only, in terms of suicide bombings, economic effects, extremism in the form of sectarianism etc, or weakening our legitimacy to talk on Kashmir; any attack on the West or India, or even China as the Uighur militants receive training here, will be absolutely disastrous for Pakistan’s national security. We can’t repeat the OBL fiasco again and again and expect others to be forgiving! So when PTI states that extremism should be tolerated through unilateral declaration of surrender, as peace deals are that, it carries no sense at all and is extremely ignorant.
Well I am strong supporter of Imran Khan – Tehreek e Insaf. Well I agree he does not have a strong team yet but he does have a team you dont know about it because those people are not shown on TV. But the good thing is they have people who are patriotic and not professional politicians they are people who want to bring change in Pakistan. They include Justice Rtd Wajih ur Rehman, Dr. YAsmin Rashid, Dr. Alvi etc etc. WThe main thing is you need a will to change the system, you should be honest and you can develop a team. SO Imran has both. He is the best option, do you wanna vote for Nawaz n Zardari ?? If you do keep supporting them and you will see them for next 20 years crying the same way they are doing now. They are not revolutionary people, they are not honest, they dont have the will.
extremism is not in only in religion.. why not saying NO to extremism of every kind, whether its in class, in education, in media, or in gender. we as nation are highly extremist when it comes to women but it never bothered us as it suits our patriarchal society. we are on extremes when there is education in Madrassa and then in highly cost elite schools, we have extreme opinions in different classes also ……..why not be bothered by all these extremes so no party can fool us on the name of terrorism……in any case we are not fighting any war against terror. we have given our army on rent to US. so whats the point
@Zainab I am sure you belong to PPP or PML a-z. No wonder why you are so negative and biased. This is called Captavity of Negativity. Do you think there isn’t any talent to run Pakistan better than your well/repeatedly tried leaders? Imran is the man who can explain Shoukat Khanam balance sheet in 5 minutes. That shows his transperancy. Only he is the leader who has a vision like Qaid e Azam and courage to do larger than life. He is well educated, he is not handing over guns in the hands or students, he is collecting Bhatta, he wants supremecy of law. I am sure you can use your writing skills in a positive manner so just try it sometime insteadof spreading negativity.
@Fouzia, given army on rent! NOT today, not this decade but more than decade !
Allah has said in The Holy Quran briefly, about research and knowing things with logic/reasons. Alas! nation has lost the capability of deciding what actually they want to do.
I would say “Pakistan has become a country of elites”, so give ease to your blood O’people
cheers
People,
You talk about change, How many people brought changes in their own colonies? How many people try to forgive your old enemies? how many of you actually want a change!!
How many people actually give respect to rikshaw driver, or street hawker, or how many people give respect to women!!
CHANGE start from surroundings, then it enters into system?
Change! Change! Change!
Then give respect to women, respect to all groups of people! break the society class in your colonies where actually you reside!!
How many of you actually take part in the bad time of street hawker, and how many times you have save the “RAPE” of young girl by animalistic group of people!!
Pakistani’s stop talking about people, because great nations always proud of their self not peopel!
Fear, lack of confidence, and boredom
Are “We the Pakistanis” victim of above three diseases?
“Imagination rules the world”
(Napoleon Bonaparte )It means when Imagination rules Pakistanis mind? When we get up in the morning, we actually want to crush every individual on our interest ?
SO,
CHANGE is a imagination, have fun with it, but above three things are important pillar for any society?
I can tell you who will be his team.
Dr Arif Alvi General Secretary PTI a dentest who even dont know ALif Bay of Politics of 60 years old.
Hamid Khan SVP PTI former President pakistan bar concil a lawyre jo k siraf Land Mafia k case leta hai age almost 60 years.
Mian mehmoodul rasheed Prsident PTI lahore two time selected MPA by PMLN platform almost 60 years old.
Mian Azhar i dont think i need to say anything about him.
So this is his Team and his own justice we can see the case of sita white and his policy with MQM.
Now u ppl can easily think that it can take revolution of which kind i no need to say anything.
waoo you found only 3 people to point out. atleast other parties are not that desperate…you can find 300 among them
PTI has a tough match to play
Zainab this is soo aptly put that i fall short of words in appreciation.. PTI is not charming to ppl like me who dont like the game of cricket or who cant correlate Cricket Champs and Celebrity Fund raisers with the running of a country who’s intrinsic problems are so complex that there seems no logical solution to them. The irony is that this party will embezzle a large number of youth and curtail the success of parties who carry the profile to run the country better than PPP and PTI. At the moment this campaign has arisen many questions like who is funding and fine tuning these events in the media and creating an Imran Hype. I’m Afraid for our naive ppl since the country cant be run on spirited speeches and the impatience of our youth withers away where perservance is required.. There’s a lot to think about..
There’s a lot to think about a positive channge. People in Pakisstan are naive that’s why they keep selecting the same leaders but many have realised it and now moving towards a right direction. This website is supported by PPP so what else can be expected from the author of this article???
naive is very soft term for the world’s one of the most ignorant and easy to be fooled nation….. and then we compare our electoral system with US
he is not Quaid e Azam nor he is Iqbal. He is just a stupid individual I have never seen in my life. I am never going to vote for him.
look like that ppl are short of logic now
imran is not a change at all…if u think a change of face is wht revolution is then bravo, go on with ur immature beliefs, he talks so much against corruption, y not check his team, wht he is putting fwd, bakwas,, hum kal bhi jahil thay aaj bhi jahil he hain…n pakistan is not jst punjab , its sindh, balochistan, khayber pakhtoon khuwan aswell…who is his candidate in azaad kashmir…Pakistan needs unity…not a one man show…wht r the outcome of previous so many promises made by him..his case against Altaf hussain, wht r the results…??? he talks to him on fone..MQM congrts him on a successful jalsaa..altaf bhai shortens his speech to 40mins so tht imi bhai is the centre of attraction…”mafaad parast”….he cant do or bring about any change….not until he unites pakistanis under one flag…its ot jst punjab…!!!
Dear Ms Zainab
by looking at your article and visualising it , I must say that you are too much on negative side , these kind of Question shows a lack of confident , whatever the questions you had , you should ask these Qs to other party too. And what answers you will expect ?
Let us suppose that other party has competent personnels , what result we have got so far ? Why the bloody hell loadshedding is going on ? why we Pakistanis are always termed as “Poor Country ” despite we have rich deposits of minerals in Baluchistan ? if PPP has the power to Govern Pakistan , why 1600 people suicide due to the worse condition of Pakistan , it is just because all Pakistani people are badly fed up by these “SO CALLED ” Democratic Party whereas it is wholly autocratic or bureaucratic . why the normal man cannot afford the expenses …these Questions you should ask the other ruling Party
Moreover , the names called in comments who are Abdul Aleem khan etc , by my research , I find that there are none other than PTI , all of them belong to PPP or PML-N . none of them are in PTI , whats the use of mentioning them if you cant check and verify the whole details .
We Pak People need a change , YES WE NEED , IT TOO MUCH NOW , WE pay TAX And we need the benefit , YES WE DESERVE IT , SO THATS WHY WE ARE GIVING CHANCE TO PTI , or else other party and cry for next 4 years like we are doing now. LONG LIVE IMRAN KHAN.
I am aussure about he is a agent of ISI. he is getting money from ISI to decrease PML(n) vote bank.He is stupid Blind man. he is playing same roll as it was played by Mujlis-e-Umal in Election 2002.
@Bilal – please wait for either one to resurrect and run for election. “Stupid” – seriously? You can do better than that…
I agree with the writer about more commentary on what “THE PLAN” is – however, I urge her to meet and practice the “ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE” approach.
As much as I do not like to play a blame game here, please let me know WHO knew what they were voting for when the current ruling government came on board..? Did you know exactly what and who you were voting for..? ‘cuz you sure did a bloody terrible job at that.
You want to know who is funding this…For God’s sake, get me an audit report of those funding the drunken MQM rallies and the jiyala get-together.
The “appreciators” really need to grow some…
being an agent of ISI is lot better then being payed agents of US and CIA like PPP. Atleast ISI may have some corner for Pak
well ,, these all supporters of imran khan are i think made blind by these kind of funny speeches ,, making fun of others ,, mocking etc,, can some 1 plz tell me that who is the real person after imran khan ? who can handle the party ? infact where the party is ??? where the team is ?? what kind of change you people want ? why you people want to give him a chance ? is PAKISTAN a toy for you people that you people would like to give a chance to every new person who’s slogan is CHANGE? what happened to the mind of youth ? it isn’t fresh and it’s not working properly that’s why every one is asking to give him a chance !! well about his promises ,, can some 1 plz tell me that what happened with the petition he was going to submit against ALTAF HUSSAIN,, what happened to the promise that he will prove him a terrorist ,, murderer,, criminal within 3 months ? has he again discussed about it on media ? why he didn’t sent altaf behind bars within three months ? almost 3 years have been passed after this promise !!! and why he is talking about the declaration of assets of others ,, while the people who were on the stage with him ,, so called his team ,, haven’t declared there assets!! one of them was my uncle ,, choudhry muhammad asghar!! he has almost an undeclared property of 200crores !!! why imran khan don’t asks him to declare his assets ? please tell me how he can change the country!! waiting for reply by a wise supporter of imran khan ,, who can give the answer with logic!!
and one thing more!! why jamaima and his brother came here in PAKISTAN to support imran khan, while jamaima has been parted from imran khan and has been married with another christian man in england ,, why they are taking part in the politics of PAKISTAN while they don’t have PAKISTANI nationality ,, why they are here while they dnt have any relation with PAKISTAN ? why they are supporting him ? will some one tell me that imran khan hates america and his ex-wife is no more concerned with PAKISTAN in real ,, but she is still supporting him ,, what is the truth behind this ? what are the facts? answer with logic please ,
zainab, ur effort is appreciated! The points u raised made sense, totally!
Follows the comments, great work guys.
While i was reading, i was amazed to see that noone pointed towards IK’s NA 55 candidate, ijaaz khan jaazi, someone who is widely known fr his gambling places.
I would agree, a team is definitely needed and this is no one-man show that can b played. IK is using the tricks ov 90’s. Anti US, anti govt, anti everything.
It takes ages and brains to become wise. If u ppl remember, IK said that pml (q) was the real opposition. Days later, it joined the govt. It talked high of mqm and what is its worth, everyone knows that.
Ik is making promises which he wont be able to deliver, we all know that. He can b a good cricketer, a good social worker bt a politician, i beg to differ!
Basically, he only politicizes on what the media tells, true or false. N the youth, they are more emotional than wise. Change is not a child’s play. Ik is no change! I’ll have to agree with zainab that we cant blindly gamble on him until he shows his true worth. It will need a minimum of 10 years of dedication to bring a change and i am sorry to say but we pakistanis are not patient. I m sure that EVEN if IK succeeds in putting the country in the right direction, this youth would have left him by then.
Pakistanis, first look how clean ur innerselves n then complain anyone, may that be any party or may that be any person in specific!
@umer –
*I’m sure you’d be delighted to know that Faryal Talpur is supposed to sworn in as President provided something unforeseen was to happen to the current President (ain’t that a promising recommendation to for can “handle”..). Please refer to a PTI information portal (website, facebook, etc) for more information…you’re in the wrong forum dude.
*Also, as mentioned earlier, ask the suggested questions to ALL participants..do not practice selective questioning (pehlay poora page parhein, phir comment karein).
* As for your toys comment, please build on your political knowledge and understand, that the current (and prior) government’s misgivings have landed Pakistan in a fragile position on the global stage. To keep doing the same thing and expect a different result is preposterous and rather, retarded, for the lack of a politically correct term. So, if someone can’t do it, get’em out and the get the new guy in.
*Someone pointed out the “success of foreign policy” here too, by saying that we won the UNSC seat. Are you for real ..? Morocco, Guatemala and Togo won too. If anything, it would be the due to Ms. Khar and Mr. Haroon. Please give credit where it is due.
@Fouzia
You admit that he is ISI agent; but ISI/Army formulate our defence and foreign policy, and Imran is against war on terror. So who is the hypocrite? Only Imran fans cant see his dumb attempt to put blame on civilians for war on terror
every one can have answers if are asked at right forum.. I m sure PTI would live to give the answers if you asked them on their sites instead of torturing our “naive” youth with the QS one never bothered to ask other parties….
One thing to remember ….This is our country ..we have to live here no matter what happens…we cannot demolish the house we are living in and where our children will be living….So ppl plz instead of playing blame games lets tell the world that we are not blind, or biased or agents. No party can change anything unless we ourselves are not changed from within… Lets be strong so no one can fool us around
“Naive” is all about ROTI, KAPPRA, AND MAKKAN.
some one will get all three of the above before voting so they will decide the vote. 🙂
fouzia,
I HAVE SAID the same thing, People are the power who can actually change not these people who are wasting the time of NAIVE people.
PPL, if you need change, start from your own street where you actually live? forgive your neighbor and respect the women in your street?
Simple chemistry can’t be done, and ppl are changing the country’s fate by some one who who who ,
CHANGE start from your street and then connect to another and then connect to small cities and then it becomes the whole countrty.
Shame on the people, who actually like to call themselves NAIVE, and waste their time in those people rally’s
well. Rallys are big time fun now especially when its sunday
It was crowd of people, not the NATION !!
The Nation has scrap out the best leaders from their land, then the punishment is to get president like ZARDARI.
LIVE WITH IT OR LEAVE IT ! BECAUSE YOU THE PEOPLE ELECT ALL THOSE DOGS AND CATS AND WHEN THEY BITE YOU THEN DON’T CRY JUST PATIENCE ,
BIG LOL
exactly,,,these questions arises in my mind when peopl go crazy about imran khan and the thing of concern is that allmost all these peopl are educated which is very unfortunate,,PTI is only targeting NAWAZ Shareef cz they think him a hurdle in their way.they blame him but cant prove their blames,,i think PTI is a group of unexperienced and emotional peopl,,i urge them to please open their minds and eyes please
@Khalid,
SONAY DO BECHARI NAIVE QUAM KO.
let them slepp, and zardari is the already a slap on the face of whole nation, which the naive nation can’t feel it.
Well next term DC will decide, IK i don’t think so. DC don’t like IK.
Anyway, Cheers all.
IF you want to change, then spend and waste time between 40k people, if not then you all are adult !! 🙂
be good till change
slam to all
I personally believe that i m wasting my time by commenting on it because the writer didnt bother to ans any persons’ reply…..
For knowledge I wana told u that Please……visit…Insaf.pk.
I think it will address all the issues raised by the various people.
Change, change, change.
1. They manipulated results and used all unfair means in election (our vites rather were around 3000 compared to the winner’s 80,000) ppl diddnt give us votes but they are fraud.
2. They used every mean to stop our rally (what if media was unable to report). They are fraud.
3. They have all joined their hands against ppl of Pakisran (we dont have proof). They are fraud.
4. Zardari us Bemari, Nawaz, Shahbaz are Dengue.
Last but not the least.
5. A prime show with no eminant and good speaker, rather ones like Mian Zhar.
But we are with him for a change….
All the mess we are in is not because we didnt have leadership, my openion is that it is because we all support corruption in one way or other. We put all blames on govt. and do not do what we are responsible for….. No leader asks for throwing garbage everywhere but we do. Its a mere example. The govt. machinery is our relatives, and they showed them ways to corruption, but we love our those relatives.
IK is potraying himself a leader for change and his followers are afraid of questions. But this is the only field where they can coverup their leader’s weaknesses.
Pathetic article honey !
who says everyone wants to see him in power..?? seems like you dont know much people.. Imran Khan is only gonna win on Facebook 😛 so chill out..
im not a big supporter of Imran Khan but seems like you are criticizing him just for the sake of it.. if u know wat i mean !!
What change we are looking for……
My six yrs. old son says if IK is in power, the sketch book he uses will be of 20 instead of 50.
My 59 yrs old boss (in a govt office) explains change with some restricted moves, efforts and results.
So lets decide what change we are looking for…..
PTI indeed is a facebook party.
‘Shireen Gheba’ Already spoke my mind so wont go in much detail BUT would like to ask a very simple Question from All of You spectulating agianst PTI and specially the Aurthor herself.
Who Would you Vote …. Who is a better option at this Point and time??
If your Answer is PTI, then stop speculating and being Negative.
But,
if you have someone more appropriate than PTI, Better come up with some solid grounds because its not time to bring a change but to simply GrowUp and be adult about whats better for our country
Rather than,
making yourselves look like a Fool in process of trying to sound more of a genious and getting noticed.
Same As,
Shoaib Akthar with his ‘Controversially Yours’ and bundle of bollocks in it in order to get noticed and to sell the book more. Pitty you All (who are againt PTI with no other Option or same rotten Options in mind)
ONE MORE THING …..
Please if You are critsizing IK than do mention who You
Support
And
(to the Author) Please do consider (for love of God) changing the Articles Name to ‘ZAINAB, Tom, Dick and Harry’s CONFUSION’.
yes you are 100% right 1 mane show and he is not politition too and pml n have a v good experion team like ishaq dar ihsan iqbal sartaj aziz etc
Every Criticism is important and lead you to improvement…the current demo at Minar Pak is a night mare for Two existing parties…if you analyze the past..who was BHUTTO and what was his team…but still he is admitted as a leader….Who was Muhammad Ali Jinnah and what was his team in start…but know we all admit and he is a father of our nation…the one thing common between all gr8’s and Imran Khan is Struggle for Justice…and Imran Khan is Struggling for this nation for past 15 years while other are enjoying their Luxurious life’s. Imran Khan has a ideology which is know also admitted by China. It takes time to develop parties..and know when nation is with him..he will make the best team for our country because he is the man with leader ship qualities.
Well I am happy to read the questions u have raised about Imran Khan. First of all I would like to clarify my position. I am not PTI leader or worker, rather I am a journalist and will try my level best to maintain impartiality.
1: When Bhutto started political movement there may have hardly couple of known figures while rest of party was in same position as Imran Khan PTI is. I agree to your point of view that his team must have its introduction but the problem is that no one bother to know about Imran Khan PTI second and third hand command before the stunning Lahore public meeting.
2: For God sake stop this futile arguments that people vote to a team who can pull the country out of crisis. Pakistan has been brought to verge of collapse by those having strong teams, be that PML-N, PPP, PML-Q etc etc as well military specialist. In urdu I will say that in the destruction of Pakistan each ruling party and group, both political and military, took part according to their share (Hissa Baqadre Jusa). So its no argument as to how Imran will run the country without having team. Those having teams destroyed this blessed country.
3: Imran Links with Taliban. please before we accuse some one of something we need to have proof. don’t argue and talk like layman or man in the street. Even if Imran has links with Taliban, for sake of arguments, what is bad in it. Taliban are sons of the soil. Each Pakistan must have relations with them. if we keep on bomb them like Pakistan has been doing it on US pressure we will make them enemy which will result in the disintegration of Pakistan. For God sake stop issuing licences of patriotism. We have almost loosed Baluchistan and now we are loosing our brave tribal belt.
3: Imran Khan funding, its good question and all political parties must show their source of income and how they carry on their programs. Nawaz Sharif has recently claimed he is indebted to his son for Rs20 million. what a joke is this. how long the ruling elite will deceive the innocent masses.
And lastly, why such outcry from some circles on the growing popularity of Imran Khan. Why his Lahore public meeting has snatched sleeps of many. why if he is just nothing, having no team, having no political standing and if he is taliban agent?
Those who close their eyes to realities face dreadful consequences. Imran or some one else but now this nation seem to have decided to rise up against the ruling elite who have usurped their rights and filled their bellies with ill-gotten money.
Arif Yousafzai
Journalist/Anchor
The article has already been discussed in detail, so instead of giving my opinion on it, i rather like to share some of my apprehensions.
As every one knows, PPP govt. is setting new records in corruption, bad governance, mismanagement and destruction of major departments e.g PIA, WAPDA, Pak Railway etc. So its almost inevitable that they will not gain the power in the forthcoming election.
Here rise a question, what will be our next choice. Within the basket we have either right Wing (PML-N, Jamat e Islami, PTI ) and the left wing (PPP, MQM, PML-Q, ANP). Now analyse the situation meticulously, so far the distance between PML-N & PTI is increasing, Jamat e islami yet to be decided to rejoin MMA or go for solo flight, so the vote of the right wing will be splitted and eventually favouring the situation for the left wing. Which has the strong vote bank irrespective of the overall country situation (excluding PML-Q). Infect one of the major columnist claim that in one of the private party Asif Zardari was quite happy with the overall situation and said, every vote which will be divided among these parties, will help my cause to regain the government. So i request you all to please cast your vote amicably and conscientiously. Must think for the better future of Pakistan. Instead of going after the personalities, we need a party’s vision. One person can not change the situation. And please do not quote the example of Quaid e azam. At that time the whole nation was behind him. Whereas right now we have already been divided in different groups. SO think wisely, its better to attach with a party, to whom your manifesto is more aligned, instead of going for a solo flight and become a reason for paving the path of others. Hope you all have got my point.
well tbh i dnt blv such non-sense sick attitude…well obviuosl IK has team ..he has already announced several times on media that how can he bring change…moreover he is honest thats what make him distingush…a statement of hamid mir””imran khan ki syast se to akhtlaf kia ja skta ha mgr wo aik emandar admi ha…jo uski neyat pe shak krta ha wo khud badniyat ha” ..come on u ppl we gave 4 4 chances to ppp/pmln but no big result now u will say atomic bomb by MNS ..but the fact is k it was strted by BHUTTO and accomplished in 1985/6 so that was not big “KARNAMA” by MNS ..so i request all PAKISTANIS to give him atleast single chance to prove himself
lol this girl is clueless about Imran Khan, I’ve heard this a thousand times.
He’s talked more about how to fix the economy than anyone else. I mean what did she want, a powerpoint presentation at the rally?
O and when it comes to funding, people trust IK over anyone else with their money. Did u know IK has overseas Pakistanis giving monthly donations for his campaign. He had fundraising dinners at US, UK, and UAE just for the Lahore rally where he collected $60,000-$80,000 from each.
I’ve heard all of this. From calling him “good looking” JI to calling him pro-establishment, it never ends. Look at the other side and see if anyone on that side has anything to offer. IK’s been right about everything he’s said for the past 7 years. He’s already done what was said to be impossible in that past, so its quite obvious he is pretty smart and blessed by Allah
And if u look at the Lahore rally, u have to give respect to the PTI team for their organization Mashallah, whoever they are (and however new and “immature”.)
I am not a member of PTI or supporter but I think Imran have a better vission for the future of Pakistan if we compare with other Leaders who never gave their future plans. PML(N) and PPP does not give any type of solutions for present Pakistans problems.
Did anybody ever asked above questions with other party Leaders like PML(N)OR PPP??? Never.
Those who thinks PTI is a one man show they are actully delibrately confusing other people.
Imran Khan also so many times announced his team on different forums and also you can see PTI website if you want to check their team as well as their future program.
Let me tell you his funding campaign. Imran Khan recently collected funds from their dinner campaigns in America from overseas Pakistanis as well as their active supporters and members are collecting themselves. He has large majority of overseas Pakistanis contacts who support him.
Imran have given his ecnomical program so many times on TV interviews as well as on talk shows but I think lots of people has closed their eyes and keep asking same questions again and again.
Imran Khan is the only Leader who talks clearly for their party vision.
I do not want to wast next 5 years by giving old family business politician a chance to win and come in power and waste another terms like they did in last 63 years.
People who argue that other parties have experienced people to run the country. I do not beleive on these arguments. Their experience is only to work for themselves and for their own families not for Pakistan.
What Military can give Imran Maximum??? Prime Ministership. He has already rejected Offer in 2002. I don’t thing that establishment is behind the Imran Khan. This is just a PML(N)Propaganda.
I beleive Imran Khan wants to do something for his own country and people so we should all give hime atleast on chance. He deserve for the chance as he is a strong, honest, enthusiast leader.
PPP, PML(L)take votes for granted. This mean whatever they do people will give them vote. Its time to tell them that Pakistani people are not sheeps and goats. They are human beings and they will think 10 times from now who to give their valueable vote.
imran khan ki LAHORE wali rally inqlabi nahin the aur na he wo koe inqlabi leader lgta hai… agr wo rally inqlaabi hoti tou wahan tehreek e insaaaf k jhndon (flags) ki jga PAKISTAN k jhnday (flags) hotay. SO WO RALLY PAKISTAN k lye nahin bl k imran khan ki zaati rally the.aur wo apni saaabqa wife ko saath lay kr phirnay say kea btana chahta hai?????????????? ye 1 ISLAMIC country hai aur wo agr hmara leader bn’na chahta hai tou ISLAM K DAERAY MAIN RAHAY…. wo itna inqlaabi leader bnta hai tou usay chahiay k pehlay apna character b thek kray,,, ta k PAKISTAN k leader k khilaaf koi kisi kism ki ghalt baaat na kr skay…………… thanks….
Amazing work gus… I am not a supporter of anyone, but of Pakistan.. I read all comments and the article itsel.. I am too much pleased that at least we have a good team of intellectuals who can think and analyze almost all aspects of the historical stories being written in 2011. This is a real sign of Big changes in near future.. and I can assure you the change will be positive this time.. because the debates media has started will definitely land to the prosperity….
Only One thing to IK’s supporters.. you all are my younger brothers and some like my Son and daughters…. Please Please Please dont follow anyone blindly… though you are emotional about our beloved country but emotions must not overule the wisdom. No Doublt IK is a good personality but he is not a single solution of terrifying problems of pakistan.. ground realities are somewhat different.
IK Must sit with Nwaz Sharif and all other parties to make a 20-years Comprehensive agenda of Pakistan…
IK can play his best role to finalize this agenda and make consences… Believe me if he can deliver this agenda… he will remain alive in history. winning a chance of PM chair is a very tiny thing in front of
“Pulling Pakistan from the well of hell”
And last but not least…. this realy hurts the feeling of true Pakistanis when he says: “O ‘ Mian sab Jan diyo,.. sadi wari aan dio”
My Dear Pakistan is not sip of coke for which you want to take your turn … please do think.
your insecurities are understandable..!!!
even if he doesn’t have the elective representatives till now, which I’m sure he’ll reveal later on , we just don’t want the same ppl governing our country and making numerous mills and factories out of nothing ..
A vote to Imran Khan will eventually turn into a vote to Zardari, making him to rule you again for another term.
Think over it instead of being “jazbati inqalabi”
i agree. at this time which party has good team? i think pmln has good team as compared to other political parties.i think pmln should make an allience with pti
well! i don’t agree….as u dnt vote a party or admin sytem etc too….u vote for a person u knw better and u think he will be helpful in future…..while in rural areas the scene is totally different…..u vote for a bag of rice or a dinner arrngd…the more u spend more u get…..that has nothing to do with system and blah blah……secondly your point that u see no big names then i think every sensible person dnt want to c big names like rehman malik,bilawal bhutto,zardari,babar awan,firdous ashiq awan,jamshed dast etc…….i agree imran khan needs to establish his party but i knw 1 thing that there isnt any bilawal to replace zardari,hamza to shahbaz and etc……..for God sake give chance to a layman too……let him show his abilities….we dnt lack talent we lack oppurtunities…for u 1000 rupees not a big deal but ask them who earns it by woking whole month and his electricity bill comes 500 or more…you can’t say that imran khan would chng the whole system or Pakistan will be like europe but m sure there would be some change IA………as sumthng is better than nothing…..lets hope for the best….
if pmln and p.t.i make an alliance for the betterment of the country by keeping apart their egos ,, then the real change can come ,,
Qaid was individual
mahateer Muhammad, Nalson mandela etc formed there parties very effectively after in power. those persons have vision to solve the problem and betterment of people.
what Pakistan get from status-quo parties that writer is talking about?
we need a leader, a visionary one like Imran khan.
No bad person can stay in his party becoz of his firm stand on rule of law and anti-corruption policy.
Kaptaan accha ho tu match fix nahi ho sakta.
kuch log taang khichao muham me hisa le rahay hein, lenay do, lage raho….Pakistan nation is awaken now
Imran khan team is best team.
Only his team needs to delivered, which it can, only when he able to come in power.
if they fail, i will be in opposition,
But this philosphy is stupid to criticize a team which is not exposed yet
I like Imran khan because of his principle stand.
i m his team member 🙂
Imran khan’s team is best, coz team always built in opposition, in 17 years of opposition Imran has best team in pakistan.
vote for imran khan
nalaik league walay kitnay garm ho gaye hein becharay.
Imran sahib se request ha ki itna barra jalsa na kia karain becharay khud kushi hi na kar lain 🙂
Momin aik sooraakh se do baar dasa nahi jata.
awam in parties ki noora kushti se tang aa gaye hein.
We need change, we need Imran khan
Imran khan is best, rest all are exposed traitors enemies of pakistan, who have no vision except how to remain in power.
why nawaz sharif never spoke a word against U.S?
Why nawaz sharif never talk about daron etc?
why oppsition has failed to deliver and stand against corruption.
For God sake ab tu sudhar jao, werna koi accha leader paida hi ni ho sakta iss mulk me
support Imran khan
hey well i didnt had time to read the comments … but just want to add something here…
How do we know imran khan.politically speaking he only had one seat ever,and thats all he has achieved in pakistani politics circus. but how come he is so popular caz we know him as a cricket star aswell. he made a team outa doctors and made it happen what everyone said is impossible.he left his rich life for us.he left his wife for us.u talk about experience rather then talent. when nawaz sharif or zardari came into power, they are not even Bachelors and i doubt they even did their matriculation. yet you guys dont get confused when u vote for them.what are u realy relying on, their mental capacity to run a country or their experience or the team. you wont even hire a person who is not learned for a simple petty job yet you vote em to run the country.
when nawaz sharif came after his exilem, i remember geo reported that he learned how to use computer and can email now. it was funny. but still we say he is a leader. the people of his party , the TEAM , the Experienced lot , we all know em and we think they have a team.BUT dont we know that that team is just to corrupt.all the faces are corrupt. if we dont give this guy a chance how would we know who is in his team. its teh TEAM LEADER who is the key figure in any organization. he has proven himself in LEADING A TEAM when it was the finals of worldcup, when it was building a cancer hospital and when it was then university projects.the all we know is, he is loyal , he is learned , and he got guts , he can eyeball the corrupt mafia .
i had this argument in my office with PML N fans, but i replied them with this, nawaz has a team and we all recognize em , they are popular aswell but they are not WORTH my vote or even suitable for this post. u need to see the performance of imran khans team … u gta give him a chance if you trust the man is loyal.
cheers ,
GO AHEAD AND VOTE FOR NAWAZ AND ZARDARI!!!!
we pakistanis deserve this as so many educated ppl still want to vote for the pathetic f###s who have ruined it all for us. once again…
GO AHEAD , VOTE FOR THEM, BUT DONT U UTTER A SINGLE WORD AFTER ELECTION THAT PAKISTAN HAS SOMETHING WRONG IN IT!!! U ppl probable like it the way it is….unfortunately, there wont be any pakistan in a few years with the present leaders.
very pertinent questions n i feel every rational Pakistani who wants to vote for IK have these confusions in mind, hope PTI come up with some reasonable answers– but truly the most irritating thing for me is that he`s running one-man show, he should project his 2nd tier leadership if he has any…
I suggest u go to the PTI website and have a look at all the other PTI leaders. All of them are very successful,educated and have been running highly organizations for some time. One thing is for sure: Corruption will not be tolerated under Imran and his party.
You have no right to write this article as clearly you haven’t done any research.
You wanna vote for a “party”, then vote for N or PPP. Any sane,educated being would agree that Imran is atleast the best available option if not the perfect solution
Secondly, the issues that Imran has raised such as corruption, asset declaration, tax collection are issues which no other party has ever talked about.
Funding? well if the army funds him then Zardari,N would’ve reduced the army’s budget in the first place.
He is funded mostly by rich foreign Pakistanis.
Btw have you ever wondered who funds Nawaz’ Jalsas? Well, our taxes fund them !
Hope you’re reading these comments 😛
well said….it just confuses me when ppl still want to vote for the old parties after so many years of failure..
Prominent leader; Ruler; Khalifah is always ONE! and his followers in uncountable numbers. I don’t understand Why people do not think the reality. President is ONE; fingering all institution of Pakistan. If that ONE PRESIDENT becomes GOOD; He stop fingering and start pouring blessings in every institution of Pakistan. It is always ONE; who create thing and make followers to implement it.
Besides, IF PTI was one man show; The Lahore Jalsa would be a FLOP. It was Party leadership; and all management Central and Provincial who did hard efforts throughout in long years and made it successful at Minar e Pakistan.
I wont blame the politicians but the public of Pakistan.
Its not PTI confusion..it is actually the pakistani people who are confused.
Pakistan is actually confused whether to follow Islam or the media..
Pakistan came into being as an Islamic Republic..
Pakistan ka matlab kia?? LA ILAHA ILALLAH
i bet many people who are reading this may be saying im talking rubbish and very few who still know the meaning of Pakistan can understand what im talking about.
the problem is that we have crossed our limits…and youth of today doesnt even know what their limits are.
Islam is gone from our hearts..our heart is actually linked with the western world..
This great man…a white christian who converted to Islam..once said on TV..what we (Americans) are throwing in the gutter is what Muslim of today is adopting..
and i agree 100% with what he said..
I met one great guy today..just few hours back.he was living in highly populated muslim area for 14 years he said…and only converted last December..Mashallah
What I am trying to say is..that non muslims read our books are convert to ISlam..where as we as Muslims ignore them and do what is being showed to us in media..what a shame..
I used to get really upset on hearing what pakistani government is doing in pakistan..everyday i used to hear a new story..shortage of food..shortage of light..bomb blasts..drone attacks and all these things…but now when i actually found what pakistani ppl have got into…i realised shredding tears is of no use anymore..we have actually asked for this.
alchol is as common as coke
adultery is as common as in other non muslim states
corruption at its peak
shameless clothing..dupattas as they never existed..
even the ones covered from head to toe cant be trusted today..
As a pakistani..we dont celebrate 14 Aug, 23 March, 6 Sep as much as we celebrate halloween and valentines day and easter and christmas..
kasmay i dont get to see a single ad or a program on TV for our pakistani days but again for other days I have mentioned..it gets all over the news and channels..
basically its no different than any other country
we cant call it a muslim state anymore.
do you know what..why dont we just let americans take over pakistan…if we are to adopt every single tradition,,we should just let them come over,, take over our country and it would be easier for us to follow them..there wont be any drone attacks atleast…besides they’ll just do the same as they did in afghanistan and iraq..
Even Allah has said it..jaisi koum hogi wesy hi hukmran.
whats left now? we are all in a state when such leaders are to be set upon us..
therfore, we are not to blame the leaders but ourselves..
before you blame someone..look into yourself and around you..what we have become..how can we still ask for great leaders??
Even I am not an extreme Muslim..but atleast we should stay within our limits…and to know our limits, read Quran.
I personally think..pakistanis have gone too far in doing kufar and as i mentioned earlier these things have become so common that we dont realise that its wrong..haraam things are so common that we are doing them wihtout thinking twice.
I remember..there was a time when even smoking was taken as a bad habbit..and now..people smoke to show off..same with drinking…they drink to show as if they are doing something really heroic.
The only way to get a government of your choice is by first changing ourselves..If the pakistani public is changed i believe even zardari will start thinking for the benfit of pakistan…
i know its kind of impossible thing…but its as hard as changing your ownself..
Allah hafiz
He is being funded by the establishment and he does not have solutions of our problems and he is making people crazy after him
The mendacious propaganda war of critical PPP at its evil best.
The author: “When you vote, you vote in a party – an administration, a system – not an individual. ”
Yeah right, perhaps that is why PPP is still getting elected despite death of ZA Bhutto 3 decades ago.
Zainab Qureshi need not worry about funding sources of PTI but if she is really curious she can visit PTI’s site and study PTI’s audit reports. Audit Reports available in top-left corner of the following page:
http://www.insaf.pk/Support/Donate/tabid/179/Default.aspx
But if this doesn’t silence the author, all I can say is:
Bad-khuwa boltay rehtain hain,
Karwaa.n chalta rehta hay
firstly to all PML-N and PPP supporters: we can all see where this country is going, all thanks to the so called “administration, a system, a team ” of these corrupt parties.
do you think that right now its not a one man show?
do you know that even the president of Kashmir calls the prime minster Gillani as a powerless puppet?
And who wants proofs against any one? there are several proofs against Zardari, Nawaz… even IMK as well that he is incompetent, he has links with feudal lords and the military is backing him up. The worse I can assume at the moment is that he will turn out to be a dictator like Musharraf, but atleast he has no history of corruption, he is educated and knows the problems of this country and promises to solve them. But this only time will tell.
What other option do I have? to vote for PPP who’s president has been on vacations every time his country was drenched in floods
or the PML-N which has been a silent opposition party for the past 3 years till today as they had been bought by zardari?
we have seen the true colours of all the parties except the PTI. I think its time to give them a chance.
As for the author, she is confused like everyone in Pakistan is…
All this load shedding, drone bombing, foreign threats, corruption and the daily news feed of:
“today ___ killed her wife….
today a wife killed her children….
today a girl got raped…
today ___ number of people died in firings” has made us all confused.
May ALLAH bestow HIS mercy on us sinners! Ameen
PTI economic plans: bold but unrealistic
Elections are not due till early 2013, but two political parties are out in force on the streets, and the festivity associated with elections in Pakistan is suddenly very much in evidence. Snap elections may or may not be on the cards, but given that there is definitely an economic crisis on, and both the PMLN and PTI are promising radical change, it is worth it to look at the manifestoes of the ruling party, as well as the two contenders for power, to see whether any of them are indeed offering any fresh ideas. The idea here is not to comment on whether parties who have had a chance to be in power have actually implemented their policy manifestoes (needless to say, they generally have not). Also, one has to understand that manifestoes typically do not give detailed implementation plans, but just indicate a party vision. And it is this vision that we try to assess here.
Let us start with the PPP’s 2008 manifesto. The party has drifted significantly further right compared to 1970, when the manifesto more or less began with a criticism of the “dependent capitalist systems” of developing countries operating within a “neo-colonialist power sphere,” and the PPP’s ultimate objective was said to be the creation of a “classless society.”
PPP and PMLN manifestoes sound suspiciously like standard policy documents that appear regularly in Pakistan, and end up on shelves. There is nothing new there for the most part. The PTI’s stance is bold, but unrealistic
Not surprisingly, (times change after all), no such rousing words in 2008. Instead, we have a bland exposition of the need to support rapid economic growth, pursue a sound debt policy, and control inflation. There is also talk of the PPP’s commitment to private sector led, export oriented growth (oh dear – Mr JA Rahim would be appalled) and of course lots of promises on meeting basic needs. There is also talk in the PPP 2008 manifesto of a “fair” tax system where discretionary powers of tax officials are curbed and slabs rationalised, but that is pretty much it on this topic. One may as well be reading a standard Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), that colourless document that the World Bank used to churn out in every borrowing country (and perhaps still does, but appears to have given up in Pakistan).
Where the PPP gets more specific is on poverty alleviation schemes. The manifesto talks about promoting microfinance and instituting targeted poverty programs – although these were supposed to be in the form of conditional cash transfers rather than the unconditional handouts now being given through BISP. But to give the party some credit, this is an area where they at least followed through on their promise. Other than that, the closest PPP-2008 comes to PPP-1970 is to talk about “just labour policies” including (but not limited to) bringing the Industrial Relations Ordinance in line with ILO conventions. Another distinguishing feature is the mention of the need for madrassa reform. The most significant omission is the silence on land reform. No mention of the landless at all. Overall, a nice, safe, middle of the road manifesto which will not ruffle any feathers.
For all the fact that Mr Shahbaz Sharif has lately been disposed to singing Habib Jalib off-key (the latest being his rendition of “Aise Dastoor Ko, Subhe Be-Noor Ko, Main Nahin Maanta” at his 28 October rally) in public meetings, the PMLN’s economic agenda is as bland as that of the PPP. Once again, the public face of the party has changed significantly over the last decade – from a staunchly pro-establishment, pro-status quo group, its leadership has morphed into the only leadership of a major political party in Pakistan which has actually had the temerity to question the army. If nothing else, the sight and sound of one of the country’s richest industrialists, heading a party that was created under the patronage of the country’s most brutal dictator, quoting from Jalib and Faiz as part of his election preparations, is enough to make one speechless.
But that’s where the good news ends. The PMLN’s economic manifesto is more detailed than the PPP’s (and lists more policy actions to be undertaken), but there’s nothing in there that is not to be found in any standard policy document in Pakistan. Agricultural and industrial development, the need for better infrastructure, “one-window” facilities for this and that, controlling inflation, “pro-poor and inclusive” growth strategy, you name it and every buzz-word in the book is accounted for. The section on reducing poverty is the most lackluster, with an emphasis on governance reforms to improve service delivery. There is the usual lip-service to microfinance, but no mention of specific poverty reduction programmes or targeting mechanisms. The closest it gets is to talk about setting up manufacturing and services enterprises owned by the poor and managed by professionals. No idea how that would be at all feasible. But unlike the PPP, the PMLN does make a statement about some form of land reform (albeit the un-ambitious one of giving state land to the poor).
Which brings us to the new kid on the block – PTI. Until recently, Imran Khan was unencumbered by the idea that he may actually get elected and have to deliver on his promises. Perhaps thanks to that, the PTI manifesto is easily the most interesting of the three.
It is the only one to say that there is little evidence that microfinance leads to poverty reduction, and that ownership of assets is a more credible route out of poverty. It goes on to say that rural land reforms will be implemented “such that the maximum numbers of rural households own a minimum-specified area of land.” Although the section on land reform then skirts around this issue, reiterating the safer option of giving state land to the poor, the fact that the earlier statement was made at all is interesting.
There is talk of the educational apartheid that prevails in the country, and the proposed remedy is to introduce a common core syllabus. That may be a good idea on paper, but Mr Khan would do well to remember the results of General Zia’s attempts to impose Urdu as the language of instruction – that policy laid the foundation of the current apartheid.
In a move that should make Mr Khan’s bearded friends distinctly uncomfortable, there is much hand-wringing over the high population growth rate, and talk of making population welfare “an integral part of the health policy.” Kudos to him if he can pull that one off.
As expected, the PTI takes a strongly anti-donor stance and talks about conducting audits of all loans taken from development agencies, as well as negotiating with donors to reduce annual debt repayments to a certain percentage of foreign exchange earnings. This is highly unrealistic.
More interestingly, it is the only one of the three parties which talks about rationalising the defence budget, and placing it before a parliamentary committee! Again unrealistic, but a brave stand.
In fact, given the bold stance that the party takes on many issues, a notable omission is the need for agricultural income tax, although there is talk of instituting wealth and capital gains taxes. Its stance on labour laws is somewhat similar to that of the PPP, with talk of bringing Pakistan’s laws in line with ILO conventions, and restoring trade union activity.
To sum up, there is little to distinguish between the economic sections of the PPP and the PMLN manifestoes. And both sound suspiciously like standard policy documents that appear regularly in Pakistan, and end up on shelves. This is not to say that the policy prescriptions are wrong, just that there is nothing new there for the most part. The PTI definitely goes a step further in its manifesto – sometimes it almost sounds like the PPP circa 1970. But somehow, reading the manifesto leaves one with the impression that the PTI is a party that wants to make a splash at the polls, but does not see itself actually taking power, even as part of a coalition. If nothing else, though, the party deserves some credit for sticking its neck out.
The writer is an analyst with Strategic and Economic Policy Research (Pvt) Ltd
http://www.thefridaytimes.com/beta2/tft/article.php?issue=20111104&page=4
I dont like any politician.. all are corrupt , looters,thieves and lota parties…
IK wants others to declair assets but what aboout his own ?? what a ridiculous stance of a so called hero who possesses 5 crors and ask for zakwat… too much contradictions in himself… o common guys dont become blind followers.. he is a Jewish Loby’s agent.. leave all Pakistani media.. just notice the timely appearance of Jamaima Smith… and his friend Journalist.. why she wants to support IK’s campaign while she is divorced and married to some English business man.. just think
despite the fact that Asif zardari is my best politician.
i think we should give a chance to IK. all parties, PPP, PML n, PML q and evergreen MQM, were given chances to prove their potential but…..?
i think, instead of giving another chance to already tested parties, IK will be good choice. our country can afford another 5,4,3,2,1 years of destruction.
pml(n) ka utna he qasoor hai jitna pppp ka in 3 saalon mein awam ka beragerk hogaya lekin pml(n) ne kuch nai kia ab jb imran khan khud kuch krne ja raha hai to dermayan mein agaye hain
imran khan sirf is waqat agencies ki support main itna chalange mar rahga hai khud is k father ko corruption ki waja se bhutto hukumat main farig kiya gaya tha????
aur 15 saal main khud is ne kya kam kiya hai i mean is ki party ne sb choor daku is ki party main hain 1 admi chor aur qatil hai agr power main a gaya to pehle apne case khatam kare ga to insaaf kahan sirf nare bazi aur jo log is ko support kr rahe hain wo net pe hain aur jab yahan mata mari hoi to sare computer boy kahain pe nazar nai ayenge.thats a fact
I Totally agreed what UZ says in above lines…..
” I dont like any politician.. all are corrupt , looters,thieves and lota parties…
IK wants others to declair assets but what aboout his own ?? what a ridiculous stance of a so called hero who possesses 5 crors and ask for zakwat… too much contradictions in himself… o common guys dont become blind followers.. he is a Jewish Loby’s agent.. leave all Pakistani media.. just notice the timely appearance of Jamaima Smith… and his friend Journalist.. why she wants to support IK’s campaign while she is divorced and married to some English business man.. just think “
Well-written piece. The questions posed by the writer are very pertinent and intelligent. I am afraid IK and his lobby have not shown any depth or substance…….it is a lot of hype and hot air with no direction or political prowess. He is unrealistic, naive and wee bit hypocritical in his approach……to say the least.
Can we move away from a discussion on individuals for a moment and focus on the electoral process itself – and the critical reforms that are needed within that. Exercising one’s right of franchise thoughtfully and responsibly is important, but before that lies a long and arduous process which is what needs strengthening. The democratic process is not just about casting a vote – please look to the systems behind it. That is why things are in such a mess even in a country like the US – where the democratic process has been hijacked by big time lobbyists and corporates. In Pakistan too the powers that be call the shots – irrespective of which civilian face is in power. Except in the case of IK, they will have full control as he will be their absolute proxy.
We need to change the dominant narrative in Pakistan and that requires collective action because individuals are silenced easily. Asking these questions is a good start, but dig deeper and take the analysis to another level.
imran khan sirf is waqat agencies ki support main itna chalange mar rahga hai khud is k father ko corruption ki waja se bhutto hukumat main farig kiya gaya tha????
aur 15 saal main khud is ne kya kam kiya hai i mean is ki party ne sb choor daku is ki party main hain 1 admi chor aur qatil hai agr power main a gaya to pehle apne case khatam kare ga to insaaf kahan sirf nare bazi aur jo log is ko support kr rahe hain wo net pe hain aur jab yahan mata mari hoi to sare computer boy kahain pe nazar nai ayenge.thats a fact
Karachi Altaf Hussain Bhai MQM Jeay Pakistan
Reality rally in karchi Pakistan
yah Haqikat Hai Altaf Hussain Karchi
lakhon logon ka dil darakta hai Altaf Bhai Ka lia
Jeay Altaf Hussain Bhai MQM Karachi
Jeay Jeay Jeay Altaf Hussain Bhai Karchi
Karachi Altaf Hussain Bhai MQM Jeay Pakistan
Reality rally in karchi Pakistan
yah Haqikat Hai Altaf Hussain Karchi
lakhon logon ka dil darakta hai Altaf Bhai Ka lia
Jeay Altaf Hussain Bhai MQM Karachi
Karchi MNA MPA Nazim haqparas MQM Karchi Pakistan Zindabad