Dear reader, online ads enable us to deliver the journalism you value. Please support us by taking a moment to
ISLAMABAD: Rejecting the demand that only long-time party workers be given tickets for coming general elections, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan said on Friday that winning the elections was the top priority of his party and it was possible only through electable candidates.
Speaking to party workers who have been staging a sit-in outside his Banigala residence for over a week while demanding tickets for PTI loyalists, Mr Khan said that there was no question of (a difference between) new and old workers.
He said that the 126 days of the sit-in staged in 2014 were not as difficult for him as the three weeks during which party tickets were distributed.
Urges caretaker govt to take public into confidence over economic conditions of country
“We worked 12 hours a day to decide about the tickets. We received as many as 4,500 applications for tickets and awarded around 550 tickets,” the PTI chief said. “After observing reaction over ticket distribution, I decided to review the process. I have been working on it for the last one week and have also got surveys conducted in many areas to ensure fair distribution of tickets.”
He said that there were complaints about only 10 per cent tickets but during the review process it was observed that there was almost no difference between the candidates who were awarded tickets and who were not. In some constituencies long-time workers were ignored because newcomers were more aware about how to contest elections.
“It is not an easy task to review ticket distribution and the process will be completed in three to four days. I have not awarded a single ticket to my relative or friend. However I want to make it clear that tickets will be awarded to those who know the science of contesting elections because change cannot be brought without winning the elections. So our first priority is to win the elections,” Mr Khan said.
About reserved seats, he said that it was more difficult to award tickets to women workers, adding that it was being considered that women candidates should be able to understand the proceedings of assemblies and play a role in legislation.
Following Mr Khan’s speech, protesters ended their dharna outside his residence.
Meanwhile, the PTI chief has urged the caretaker government to take the people into confidence over economic conditions of the country.
He said in a tweet that though the PML-N government had saved billions of dollars because of decline in oil prices at international level, at the end of its five-year tenure it had left the national economy in a dismal state.
“The former government has left Pakistan with record fiscal and current account deficit, negligible net foreign exchange reserves, highest circular debt, highest losses in state owned enterprises, highest debt to Gross Domestic Product at 70 per cent and downwards economic ratings,” Mr Khan said.
In another tweet, he said that the caretaker government must elaborate the correct economic situation to the nation.
He said that headlines of different newspapers claimed that the current account deficit had hit record $16 billion in 11 months and international rating agency Moody’s had downgraded Pakistan’s rating. Similarly newspapers claimed that foreign direct investment had decreased, as compared to last year, and progress was visible only in advertisements, he said.
PPP criticises Rangers deployment at Banigala
Pakistan Peoples Party secretary general Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari has criticised deployment of Rangers outside the residence of the PTI chief.
He said in a statement that Mr Khan had been provided unusual protocol and Rangers had been deployed at Banigala to “protect him from disgruntled workers of his own party”. A large number of policemen have also been deployed at his residence.
Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2018
Comments (62) Closed
So what's the guarantee that kaptan of tomorrow won't say that corruption is essential for growth and development
"Electable" what a shame. It is slap on the face of voters. Corrupt "electable" people are ok with Mr. Khan, good luck with future of the country
So, if electables are corrupt people that means this vicious cycle will never end. Where is tabdeli that people are expecting from you.
Please listen to IK and give him a chance! He is a leader and let him play his due role instead of imposing personal liking or disliking of the candidates!
Wellsaid the great Imran khan unfortunately that’s the sad reality of Pubjab province where people vote for these electables Irrespective of which parties they belong they’ll certainly help Imran Khan elected as they get 100k plus votes in their constituencies with ease
Very mature response. Under the honest leadership committed to bring change, even less than perfect legislators would be productive. But if the leadership is corrupt and selfish, they give free hand to their workers and relatives to loot and plunder. That's what we have seen during NS and Zardari governments.
Unfortunately the great and straightforward Imran Khan realized the sad reality of politics of Pakistan abit late before anyone start criticizing him for this statement he can’t became PM without these electables and he can only bring the change once he’s in power he’ll certainly change the political system and for that he has to become PM
The sad truth is that you can be the most honest person in the world but if no one knows you and you are not electable then you cannot win elections. The bright side is that if the party leadership is honest and if it comes to power then those who are not so honest but electable will have to tow the line of the tip leadership. IK is an honest leader and he will ensure that his vision is implemented even if those who are not that honest are elected.
Electables = corrupt , unfortunately we vote for the corrupt but we want a honest govt
I agree with IK on this 100%, because to make a difference you need to be in power. If you are not in power, then all your ideology is just talk.
'Electables' is also the reason for all those people who lack moral values but have money and muscle to come into power! Don't see any future.
Imran Khan is right and needs to be trusted. Others have been tried and tested several time despite of their repeated failures. The nation should give one chance to Imran Khan as our elected Prime Minister
Yes. True. Imram knows nothing about economic conditions in Pakistan.
‘Electables’ are essential for IK to become the Prime Minister. And for that he would compromise on anything.
Then should not have blamed PML n or PPP forn having electables.
Imran Khan has dismounted from his high horse, his supporters must see the wisdom behind the move and dismount from their high horse too.
Last time he gave tickets to new people and only got 34 seats. Our people dont want change it seems.
Imran is learning the politics now!
IK is doing the right thing as its ground reality that people of rural areas only vote for baradari. After becoming PM he will give powers to local level. MPA , MNA will only able to make laws rather than constructing roads and street lights.
Politics without principles. But PTI supporters are blind followers.
Finally Imran has decided that govt of corrupt parliamentarians is more important than not becoming PM. This is what happens when Imran surrounds himself with corrupt people like JT, AK, et
@BhaRAT one don’t to have to become PM to bring change. There are people like Sir Edhi who have done a lot of good work being normal human.
Dear
Let's assume IK gets elected to the office of PM with the help of these so-called electables. This means these so-called electables after winning the election will be part of the National assembly and will eventually become ministers in different fields. So in other words, these so-called electables will be heading various ministries, do you think IK will be able to prevent them from corruption in their respective ministries? They joined PTI only because it provided them the spring board to jump into the assembly enabling them to continue their corruption in future.
Can anyone please tell me how IK will be able to bring change if all these corrupt politicians are in the assembly. Even if he would try to bring any changes through legislature, they will oppose it.
He makes a valid point. I see this as a last effort by Imran Khan. And those complaining should check history of results.
So all the political parties must need electable one either corrupt or honest , in politics everything is durost. My late father told when he was 70 that he spent 50 years in politics but found all are the same, political workers / supporters become mad, whatever leader says the follow like a religion. Its the go of the world.
@Fareed corruption starts from the top and only then seeps downward. You can change a person's thinking who is in the middle of this hierachy, if the person at the top is honest and sincere. It really is as simple as this.
First sad reality Imran Khan discovered is that he needs corrupt electables to get into power. After coming into power he would explain that he would have to help corrupt electables cheat to stay in power. The surprising part is that some of our educated voters are so guillable that they fall for that.
Poor kaptan..... Failing to bring the change in the country... he changed himself.
That is Imran demonstrating that his new Pakistan slogan is simply a slogan....
This is truly unfortunate but the reality in Pakistan is that without electables you cannot win elections. Individuals have their own vote bank which does not sway with party affiliation. What Imran has to realise, however, is that this would reduce public confidence in him and he has to ensure his party's core support remains intact. And that could only happen if he is able to assure the youth that PTI's core policies have not changed. With electables, he may be able to form a coalition government, but it would be very difficult to control those electables when it comes to reforms such as tax law, and that would be his real test. Would he succeed? Only time would tell. But the chances of failure are greater at this point in time.
@Irfan_Sydney: Pakistan is not run like Australia. Get that right, the ground realities are different. If you keep supporting Zardari & Nawaz and criticising IK, you will never see a better Pakistan!
@Fareed great you are right
It means the 2013 elections were fair!
These electables will desert him just like his 20 MPA's who sold their vote to PPP in senate elections. They will desert him if he does not give them ministries..... They will desert him if he doesn't allow them corruption.
Ali Tareen was an electable but lost to a third rate canidate... people in punjab will always vote for PMLN. PTI will only win elections if they are held on Facebook
Nayaa Pakistan ain’t happening like this. Bringing electables who are corrupt and jump ship with every new party. He has mocked every party , berated every politician and now he goes with electables. What hypocrite and ameteur. He will have no clue how to run a country when he is taking every available U turn. Stay in opposition and learn the ropes before you embark on running country affairs.
I'm disappointed to see how PTI supporters are making excuses to justify Imran's decision rather than straightforwardly accepting that he's behaving plainly opportunisticly and selfishly. I'm seeing him reaping what he sowed for others through these electables. A wrong is a wrong howsoever you try to justify it. Otherwise be ready for more lame justifications in future for failures.
If this assertion by IK is accepted, what's the guarantee that tomorrow he won't say, "corruption is part and parcel of development and progress"?
He is no better then all the other garbage and boy is he desperate for power. So congratulation people your naya pakistan is exactly like the old one it just comes in a different package.
PTI, will be better than the corrupt most political party in the history of mankind, PPP.......PPP has destroyed Pakistan and Ishaq Dar of PML N has completed bankrupted the country
Greed knows no limits.....!! He can compromise on anything for becoming PM
@Sanity so all he said in the past was a lie?
@Fareed - I don't think you have read the article. No longer Zardari & NS is in itself a "tabdeli".
@Sanity Imran Khan is in politics for quiet a time now. He already knows the mentality of our nation. Still he want that these stereotypes should follow him knowing that people only vote flatterers. Protestors sit in outside is house is a great example for imran that his so called merit candidateship is not acceptable by his own people. And this is just a beggining.
And what will happen when those electables withdraw their support when you are PM and have not fulfilled their unjust demands?
Cricket man is concerned with his PMship yet least concerned with country.
Infact nobody in Pakistan votes an honest they vote who is famous.
@Fareed tabdeeli comes when he will be in power. He cant win by any means if he give votes to less popular people. This is s dilemma in Pakistan
He cant win with the new faces end of the story.
Ik absoultly right about electable.if we want chenge the crupt system.so we should add electable persons.
The NADRA voting list must be checked. There may be names on voters lists of some 40 Lakh Pakistani who have died. Will their votes be cast ?
IK is pretty clear. He wants power and for that is he has to give tickets to corrupt, criminals or may be even Hafiz Saeeds, provided they are winnable.
What a cruel, silly, brutal and funny joke?
How can fool your followers that change has already taken place. It's the same old if you award tickets not on merit but on other cobsiderations.
@Asif - I fully agree. Indeed, I always believed Imran could also have followed Edhi sahib's example and built up genuine influence for good deeds, outside the political system. He is now tainted and as corrupt as the rest of these politicians . Sad.
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad
Yes! But a necessary one at that.
He thinks this a cricket team, really. Persists with his choice of people despite their chequered past just because he wants to win. This can work in sports but not in politics. Those people are not gonna be loyal to him or the country. Very myopic.
@Fareed. I think he knows a thing or two more than we do.
@Asif Still Edhi would not have been elected if took participation in elections. Doing good deeds is not essential in our politics. One should be experienced to manipulate its people according to his thinking. Politics in our country run by flattering people. Because that what people need. We are not used to truth.
For what you have been waiting for the last 22 years.
It took him 20 years to realize this?
PTI won KPK with out electables thats the main difference between KPK and Punjab wake up Pakistan
I don't agree with Imran Khan on many issues, I'm not a loyalist nor his follower, but I agree with him on giving tickets to the electable. I do agree with him on first you have to win the elections, that's just smart talk, people aren't ready to hear the facts, they have been lied to for so long that when someone tells them the realities, they simply don't understand. Just because you are a loyalist, does not mean you will win your area.