Imran Khan chickens out of the NA 123 by-election

PTI CEC stops Imran to contest in NA 123 By-election

LAHORE : Central Executive Council of Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaf (PTI) has stopped Imran Khan to contest in By-election from NA 123 here on Saturday.

According to details, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf announced three names for the By-election of NA 123 in which Imran Khan, Mian Mehmood Ur Rasheed and Hamid Rasheed were included. However, after the comprehensive discussion over the situation executive council stopped Imran Khan and asked Mian Mehmood Ur Rasheed and Hamid Miraj to submit their nomination papers.

Central Information Secretary of Tehreek-e-Insaf Umar Sarfaraz Cheema while talking to this agency said that Tehreek-e- Insaf is the only party in the country where decision are made by the Central Executive committee and implementation of these decision also assured.

He said that Imran khan worked hard and formed Tehreek-e-Insaf after a long struggle.

He does not want that like other parties in the country Tehreek-e-Insaf would be known as one family party. It is the basic reason that all the decisions of the party are done after discussion and consensus.

http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=152834

نوازشریف کے مدمقابل سرفراز نواز

عبادالحق

بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام، لاہور

لاہور میں شریف برداران کی پوزیش خاصی مضبوط ہے

پاکستان کے سابق کرکٹر اور اپنے وقت کے مقبول فاسٹ باولر سرفراز نواز نے ضمنی انتخابات میں مسلم لیگ نون کے قائد اور سابق وزیر اعظم نواز شریف کے مدمقابل آگئے ہیں جبکہ مسلم لیگ نون کی طرف سے بھی دو رہنماؤں نے بھی اسی حلقہ کے لیے کاغذات نامزدگی جمع کرائے ہیں جہاں سے ان کے قائد امیدوار ہیں۔

سرفراز نواز ان امیدواروں میں شامل ہیں جہنوں نے الیکشن کمیشن کے سامنے اپنے کاغذات نامزدگی جمع کرائے۔الیکشن کمیشن کے روبرو قومی اسمبلی کے حلقہ ایک سو تیئس کے لیے مختلف سیاسی جماعتوں کے رہنماؤں کے علاوہ آزاد امیدواروں نے بھی کاغذات نامزدگی جمع کرائے ۔

سرفراز نواز نے انیس سو پچاسی میں ہونے والے غیر جماعتی انتخابات میں حصہ لیا تھا اور لاہور سے رکن پنجاب اسمبلی منتخب ہوئے تھے۔

قومی اسمبلی کے حلقہ ایک سو تئیس سے تحریک انصاف کے سربراہ اور قومی کرکٹ کے سابق کپتان عمران نےحلقہ ایک سو تیئس سے انتخاب لڑنے کے لیے کاغذات نامزدگی حاصل کیے تھے تاہم جماعت کے فیصلے کی وجہ سے انہوں نے کاغذات نامزدگی جمع نہیں کرائے۔

دوسری طرف جماعت اسلامی کے رہنما اور قومی اسمبلی کے حقلہ ایک سو تئیس سے امیدوار حافط سلمان بٹ نے گورنر پنجاب سے ملاقات کی ۔

گورنر پنبجاب سلمان تاثیر نے صحافیوں سے بات کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ جس طرح فوجی جنگ سے نہیں بھاگتا اسی طرح سیاست دان انتخابات سے نہیں بھاگتے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ حالات بالکل ٹھیک ہے اور اگر کوئی ڈرون کا حملہ ہوجائے تو اس کے بارے میں کچھ کہا نہیں جاسکتا ہے تاہم ان کے بقول کوئی حظرہ نہیں ہے۔ انہوں نے پیش کش کی کہ اگر کسی کو کوئی فکر ہے تو وہ اس کے ساتھ جلسے میں جانے کے لیے تیار ہیں

Imran still adamant to have 'dialogue' with the jihadi and sectarian terrorists hiding in FATA:

PTI seeks end to military operations

Sunday, October 04, 2009 By Our Correspondent LAHORE Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has reiterated his demand to stop military operation in turbulent areas, saying issues can better be solved through dialogue. Addressing workers’ convention on Saturday, Imran announced that the party would observe October 9 as Balochistan Day and he would visit the province on October 10 to express solidarity with Baloch people. The PTI chief condemned torture on innocent civilians as depicted by a recently-released video. He said it would really be injustice with Army if we didn’t point fingers over this sad incident. He demanded Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani try soldiers involved in torture of citizens. Calling for the need to end military operations in Swat and Malakand, he said: “We stood by our Army and completely supported it but we opposed the use of force”. He said justice was the right of every Pakistani citizen and this issue must be resolved through dialogue rather then waging a war. Expressing solidarity with the people of Balochistan, Imran said the PTI would observe October 9 as Balochistan Day to express solidarity with Baloch people. He said cruelty could never be justified whether it was done by Taliban or government. He said he would himself visit Balochistan on October 10 and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf would continue to oppose injustice done to the people of the country. He said the PTI was becoming a vibrant political force and he envisaged a youth revolution in coming years. He said the PTI was no more a silent political party and it was popular among expatriate Pakistanis as well. He said workers had to play their role in strengthening the PTI while showing better performance and improving party structure. He said the party would emerge as the largest political party due to untiring effort of its workers. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf leaders, including Ahsan Rasheed, Mian Mehmood ul Rasheed, Admiral (retd) Javed Iqbal, Raja Javed Mujtaba, Asif Khan, Umer Sarfaraz Cheema and others also spoke on the occasion. Party members from various districts criticized the PML-N led Punjab government for its failure to address issues related to provincial administration. Members of districts, including Hafizabad, Narowal, Gujranwala and Mandi Bahauddin expressed their views on the occasion.

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Imran Khan to contest bye-elections in Lahore and Rawalpindi?

Here is a proposal by Haroon Rasheed in today's Jang:

If what HR claims is true, Imran Khan should stand for elections in NA 123 and NA 55 as hundreds of thousands of his (imaginary?) voters are waiting for him.

....

Article by Tahir Sarwar Mir

Imran Khan: From Score to Votes

Kashif said: (pkpolitics)

If any pro-Zardari or pro-Sharif journalist writes like this whole cyber PTI/JI pultoon will jump on him. Despite his blatant support to Imran Khan they shamelessly claim Haroon Rashid is unbiased. My foot unbiased …. he is probably most biased right winger openly compagining for IK. I wish this phutoo Taliban Khan listens to his ill adviser and file his papers. I doubt it will achieve any of the goals that Mr. unbiased has listed but will certainly burst IK’s cyber bubble.

Pakistani said:

To applogise some of you - he is lacking political wisdom and etiquette talking in public and infront of media - written on wall from very day one he can not make a place.

Cancer hospital in Lahore is a good example of his effort - he should concentrate his time for a new cancer hospitals in Gilgit and Sibi rather than politics.

Junaid Khan said:

Well written Haroon Rashid , I totally Support his pts of view and further more I want that Imran Khan should file his nomination for NA123 seat , and contest against Nawaz Sharif , This been a great Political move by Imran Khan .
And Pls note my all PTI fellow , we should not been afraid of losing , We have to take bold decision in respect of uplifted ourselves in the eyes of people of Pakistan . secondly Nawaz Sharif personality is so controversial which describe by Haroon Rashid as well in his coloum as well , so we can easily cash it through proper compaigning and right manner that people more and more aware abt that , and in last it will boost a new energy among worker and welll support PTI can gather in future .
I wish Imran Khan read all this and should take a bold decision , which will make him popular leader in future .

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PTI demands treason case against Nawaz

Monday, August 31, 2009 By By our correspondent

Karachi The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Sindh (PTI) has demanded that a treason case be registered against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for killing 15,000 people in Karachi in a military operation launched in 1992 in Sindh, especially in Karachi. The demand was made by the provincial PTI leader Ashraf Qureshi, who stated that the disclosure of Brig Imtiaz, ex-Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief, regarding the military operation in Sindh in Nawaz Sharif’s government exposed the actual plan of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, which he started in 1990 when he was chief minister Punjab. Qureshi said that a treason case should be registered not only against Brig (retd) Imtiaz but also against Sharif who approved the military operation in Sindh. Qureshi said that the aim of the military operation in Sindh particularly in Karachi was to destroy Sindh and its economy and the PML-N government attempted to pressurise the investors into shifting their capital to Mian Channo and other areas in Punjab for investment. The PTI leader also urged the party chief Imran Khan to distance himself from Sharif because the aim of his politics is to damage democracy and unity among the four federating units of the country. Source

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Mr. Imran Khan condemn the Taliban terrorists or prepare for funeral of PTI !

view: Preparing for a funeral —Samad Khurram

Imran Khan has made us proud on so many occasions. From the world cup to the first cancer hospital in Pakistan, he has given his all for the country, often at immense personal costs. Even his biggest political foes recognise these contributions and agree that his heart is in the right place. Washing off all personal attacks with his charismatic persona and eloquent tongue, Imran Khan has become a necessary guest for every talk show on TV.

In 1997, when Imran Khan started a political party based on justice, transparency and accountability, many sensed hope. He was not interested in winning via establishment meddling or cheap political sloganeering. The only way to break away from the status quo was through a message that resonated with the common man.However, the Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf has not managed to reach the average Pakistani, even with the extensive media presence of Imran Khan, for twelve years now.

In the latest IRI polls, only 5 percent of Pakistanis think Imran Khan is the best leader for Pakistan; only 3 percent said they’d vote for PTI. The average person seeks justice, but yet would rather vote for the PPP or the PMLN.

Why?

The answer is in the biases that Imran Khan exhibits, and his evolution into a myopic reactionary to the West. Time and again, Mr Khan has let his opposition of the West turn into a manifestation of anti-progress ideals and glorification of defunct tribal traditions. There is nothing wrong with genuine criticism of the West and its policies. The problem is with endless bashing driven by animosity, resulting in the kind of extreme paranoia and delusions where even upset stomachs are blamed on the ‘Zionist Hindus’.

In an article titled “Why the West craves materialism and why the East sticks to religion”, (Arab News, January 14, 2002), Imran Khan joined the ranks of Sarah Palin and George W Bush by claiming that Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution is “half-baked”. Those in the field of science, whether Muslim or not, have virtually unanimous consensus on Darwin’s “half-baked” work and its implications. For instance, Pakistani scientist AQ Khan in a recent article explained that the “unprecedented rate of recent advances in biological knowledge has...been driven by the realisation that all organisms...share a common evolutionary origin.” (The News, April 1, 2009)Another example of his hate for the West evolving into support for regressive ideals is his endless praise of the jirga system. Imran Khan claims that these systems provide “speedy justice”.In fact the jirga system is a travesty of justice. The three essential elements of justice are 1) to permit all sides have a fair chance to present their case; 2) to have the case be decided by an independent arbitrator in light of the available evidence; and 3) appropriate decisions are executed in accordance with the law.

In a jirga, which is clearly defined by centuries of practice, tribal elders decide cases on their own will. Results are often based on arbitrary tests such as walking on coals, and the accused are awarded unconstitutional and barbaric punishments. They have awarded gang rape, live burial, forced marriage and murder as punishments for centuries.Most Pakistanis are aware of this and would rather choose a slow court over a speedy jirga. Nothing can justify brutality at the pretext of speed.

The term “jirga” may have popular connotations among Pashtuns, explaining Imran Khan’s popularity in Pashtun dominated areas, but is loathed by the rest of Pakistan.Even if jirgas were not brutal in their punishments, they are fundamentally flawed. A jirga does not translate into a lower court because of the fundamental flaws in its selection of the adjudicators and decision-making. Tribal leaders are neither independent — as they inevitably have a stake in the decisions — nor versed in the law of the land. Authorising non-state personnel to make decisions for the state only weakens the government and creates a state within a state. When the criteria of selection are genetic lineages, not expertise, the system is bound to be flawed. The solution is to control avoidable delays and raise the number, expertise and impartiality of judges — as has been suggested by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

The biggest reason why PTI has lost public support is Imran Khan’s impression as a tacit supporter of the Taliban. When the Taliban were blowing up schools and beheading Pakistani soldiers, it was Imran Khan who claimed that this was government’s propaganda (ARY News, September 25, 2008), a claim that even the Taliban’s spokesman did not make. Imran Khan’s historic stagnation — that the war is America’s and not ours — has contributed to his unpopularity.Majority of Pakistanis do not agree with him. They see Pakistanis dying in Pakistan, mercilessly butchered by the Taliban.

In a recent web-poll (pkpolitics.com), over 64 percent of the 1800 respondents not only considered this to be Pakistan’s war, but also supported the military operation. Many who oppose the military operation oppose it in methodology — that perhaps the operation may not be able to eradicate all the Taliban — but unlike Imran Khan, they are not living in 2001.

The only half-statement he ever issued against these elements was telling Sufi Mohammad to stick to his word as those who break promises are not Muslims. Imagine this: instead of criticising Musharraf for martial law hundreds of times, at every possible venue, if Imran Khan had only said to the PCO judges “you are not Muslims, you broke your oath”, and that too a year later, would anyone actually consider him to be against Musharraf’s martial law?

Even the ‘B team’ of Musharraf, the PMLQ, has given more statements against Musharraf than Imran Khan has ever given against Taliban!

A proper condemnation requires naming the actors, as well as their leaders, condemning their specific actions and asking for legal recourse, as evident from Imran Khan’s hundreds of press releases against the MQM.

Public sentiment is overwhelmingly against the Taliban. The Q League did not realise how hugely unpopular Musharraf’s NRO and martial law were, and by choosing to remain Musharraf’s sidekicks, they have now become a non-entity in Pakistani politics. The same will be the fate of Imran Khan and other ‘B teams’ of the Taliban, unless they take their opposition of the Taliban to the same level as their earlier opposition of Musharraf and America.

If Imran Khan is not the B team of the Taliban, then he will have to rise to the occasion, retract statements where he claimed Taliban atrocities are all government propaganda and condemn these barbarians properly. The issue has been raised for months now and the party’s unflinching attitude, at the cost of losing popular support, suggests it is preparing for its funeral.

The writer is a student at Harvard University. samadkhurram@gmail.com

(Daily Times --- 18th June, 09)

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