I AM a PTI sympathiser and voted for it in the last elections. I eagerly supported its ant-corruption stance, as well as its plans to re-build a new Pakistan. I hope the PTI can bring about the promised changes and change Pakistan into a social welfare state.

However, the prime minster, who is determined to achieve high targets, ought to maintain a clean track record and needs to demonstrate an unblemished conduct. Unfortunately, in a few recent incidents where reports/videos are viral on the social media, I find some PTI stalwarts directly involved in exceptionally ugly conduct and behaviour. The incidents of two PTI MNAs supporting a notorious land grabber of Lahore and a woman PTI MNA and the police party raiding the residence of a political opponent’s relative are cases in point.

I never expected such behaviour from our legislators and PTI leaders . This is a dangerous trend for the party which if left unattended, would erode its credibility and popularity of the party. If this state of affairs continues, many like me who consider the PTI as a great hope for the uplift of our national cohesion and esprit de corps would not only be disappointed and shocked, but would also feel dejected.

Sajjad Rizvi

Lahore Cantt

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2018