PTI, Qadri have same objectives, different approach: Imran

E-Paper | June 13, 2026

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Chief of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan.—File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan said on Saturday that he agreed with the points raised by Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) chief Tahirul Qadri, however, the PTI does not believe in the approach chosen by the TMQ chief to achieve those objectives.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Khan said that his party has been raising the same points that Qadri raised for the past five years. However, the PTI believes in addressing those issues through democratic means.

Khan further said that according to Qadri’s demands, assemblies would have been dissolved through an unconstitutional way, which would have resulted in rewarding the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) with “political martyrdom”.

Reiterating his stance, the PTI chief called on the resignation of President Asif Ali Zardari, claiming again that free and fair polls can not be held with Zardari as the president. Khan also criticised Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) chief’s stance on the resignation of President Zardari.

Moreover, Khan claimed that 90 per cent of the Pakistani public wanted change, which could only be made possible through transparent and independent elections.

Rejecting any possibility of boycotting the upcoming polls, Khan reassured that the PTI would fully participate in the general election. Khan said the upcoming polls would be ‘historic’, and a means of achieving a ‘revolution’ in Pakistan.

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wahid

Jan 19, 2013 11:29pm

Quite right, that is why Alimighty says that He does not change the condition of a nation until the people change themselves.Corrupt people are in charge because we tolerate and support their values through our actions and values of selfishness,avarice and greed,and disregard the national interest in which every body would benefit because we will have a just system underpinned with indepedent judiciary and a police force working to assist the public and and enforce the the law of the land irrespective who the criminals are

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kirther

Jan 19, 2013 11:35pm

I admire Imran Khan as a cricketer but he lacks the essential leadership qualities that are needed to fight the current corrupt system and to motivate masses to bring about major change in the country. He is well educated and has the exposure that most of Pakistani political leadership do not, but his approach is very docile and he is not charismatic to become a front line leader. Imran Khan can do politics for as long as he wants but in order to become a leader of international repute and to bring about major changes in Pakistan he will have to shed his double standards and should be able to stand-up boldly in whatever he believes, he will not be able to deliver anything with his present approach.

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Nasah (USA)

Jan 19, 2013 04:41pm

"free and fair polls can not be held with Zardari as the president." (Imran) Trying to find yet another excuse for boycotting yet another election - once again, sir?

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Arif

Jan 20, 2013 04:25am

I am running Communication Business in Pakistan since last 10 years, in my opinion not uneducated & poor but educated & rich people are more corrupt

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Keti Zilgish

Jan 20, 2013 01:46am

"Having a democracy means doing that which is not permitted.":- thank you, Cyrus, for putting it so simply.

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Zain

Jan 19, 2013 11:01pm

Qadri's march yielded nothing though. The government is still there. Qadri has done nothing but add chaos to chaos. Democracy means there's a law, and Qadri has given the people of the country a free pass to break the law if the government doesn't give in. That's not democracy, that's anarchy. Qadri is not a leader but an opportunist. He has used the right opportunity at the wrong time through the wrong means.

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pashtunyar

Jan 19, 2013 09:35pm

If a mediocre leader like Ik is the only hope for pakistan, then will surely are doomed!

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kam

Jan 19, 2013 09:21pm

Thats exactly what Dr Qadri was protesting about all along, that the pakistani system will result in same corrupt politicians getting re-elected. So we DO need reforms which Dr Qadri was talking about!

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kam

Jan 19, 2013 09:28pm

Does IK think that the next election is NOT going to result in the same corrupt people getting re-elected? To stop all this the corrupt politicians should be barred from contesting. That is exactly what Dr Qadri was trying to enforce. Now we will get corrupt Nawaz Shariff turn to loot and plunder.

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kam

Jan 19, 2013 09:24pm

Army should NEVER be under Civilian control. Civilian control of the army resulted in 7,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys being killied in Bosnia. Go check out how Western millitary were hamstrung in the Bosnian war by civillian/politicians.

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Hasnain Haque

Jan 19, 2013 07:30pm

Arif you are so right, Pakistani people are not only simple but uneducated and corrupt, this is why so many corrupt officials keep getting relected.

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BEA

Jan 19, 2013 07:41pm

Then what is the only hope for Pakistan doing nothing but talking.

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Adil Jadoon

Jan 19, 2013 08:36pm

What are you complaining about. Shame on you.

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Cyrus Howell

Jan 19, 2013 05:14pm

Pakistanis are not used to attending such demonstrations as these marches. They are used to going on the rampage instead. The people who went to Qadri's Short March and suffered in elements met people like themselves and have more unity and solidarity that most of you do. They made contacts with some people they may know the rest of their lives - and most importantly they put the first brick in the wall. The rest just said "Pakistanis should do this", "Pakistanis should do that", "this is permitted", "That is permitted" in front of their television sets. The Qadri cadre stole the march on a snoozing nation who want a democracy without even trying. Having a democracy means doing that which is not permitted.

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khalidmurad1

Jan 19, 2013 07:21pm

The time has gone. Khan may keep giving his explainations. Qadri took the lead by practically mobilizing the people, despite all odds against him. He even kept calling Khan to join him in the battle field, but Khan display his cowardice. Khan may give any wisdom, but people will not pardon him for hiding his face at the time of action. Well done Qadri Sahib you are the actual leader.

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Yawar

Jan 19, 2013 02:54pm

It is only a matter of time that Dr. Qadri endorses Imran Khan and urges his followers and those that sympathize with his movement to vote for PTI.

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Jehangir

Jan 19, 2013 04:05pm

Imran Khan is the only hope for Pakistan.

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Arif

Jan 19, 2013 03:55pm

I was sure all along that Dr. Tahir ul Qadri was on some kind of agenda. He was allowed to march to the heart of Islamabad without any resistance and when he was at his lowest point of long march, Govt send most powerful team to him and excepted all his demands. The demands he put in the end were totally different from the ones he was say in the beginning. Pakistani people are so simple that any one can fool them on the name of ISLAM.

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Shah Deeldar

Jan 19, 2013 02:42pm

Good to see some new faces and movements. Hopefully, Pakistani democracy is ready to be maturing with time. But the lingering question remains with Pak army's elephant in the room power. It should be under civilian control before real democracy becomes a permanent pillar of Pakistan society. A faulty democracy is far preferable than one single entity's rule.

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havi

Jan 19, 2013 02:15pm

I agree with Khan

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saleem

Jan 19, 2013 02:20pm

whats the point to cry NOW?

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