Popularity of PTI draws KP notables in
Saturday, August 06, 2011
PESHAWAR: Growing popularity of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) has attracted many prominent personalities to the party during the current year and raised the hopes of the party leadership for better results in the next general election.
The PTI chief Imran Khan has been so encouraged by the inflow of technocrats and politicians in his party that he foresees a clean sweep in the upcoming polls. The newcomers say they were impressed by Imran Khan’s stance on national issues and are confident that he is the one who can steer the country out of crises.
“Whoever doubts that Tehrik-e-Insaf will clean sweep the next election, they can bet on it,” an overconfident Imran Khan said after announcing dissolution of the party’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chapter on August 2 in Peshawar. However, he made it clear that the bet must be dinner, not money.
“Imran Khan to a dear friend in Islamabad: “I’ve been saying PTI will sweep the next election, now if you’re a betting man, put money on it,” a twitter message apparently posted by a PTI supporter said.
Polls show his party’s popularity has precipitously increased. Growing number of important personalities joining PTI has also added to the party’s strength but many believe that the claim of a sweeping victory appears unconvincing. Some say Imran has misread the political situation.
Among the people who joined PTI are Rustam Shah Mohmand and Maj General (R) Tajul Haq who announced their affiliation with the party on March 9. The former has served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan, chief secretary of KP (formerly called NWFP) and commissioner Afghan refugees.
“It’s a party that stands for truth,” Rustam Shah said when asked what prompted him to join the PTI. He said Imran Khan’s leadership was another factor that attracted him to the party. Tajul Haq, hailing from Nowshera district, has retired as Inspector General Frontier Corps.
Another prominent personality, Justice (R) Burhanuddin, joined the party some nine months ago. He was recently assigned by the party chairman to head a provincial organising committee that will prepare ground for holding intra-party elections within three months.
Dr Abdul Mateen, former vice chancellor University of Peshawar, who has specialised in economics, is said to have joined the PTI now. But a senior party member said he had been with the PTI since its inception in 1996 but remained inactive. Khalid Masood, a retired bureaucrat, was brought to the party fold in June.
“These people are mostly experts in education, foreign policy and health. They are the brain of the party and will be tasked to make policies for us,” said a senior leader of PTI Zahid Hussain.
To a question about fielding them in elections, Zahid Hussain said the party would look into that possibility. “They can be sent to the Senate,” he added. He claimed that the PTI had two to three candidates in every provincial assembly constituency, suggesting that they would be able to field candidates in all constituencies.
Some politicians who could be candidates in the next election have also joined PTI. Zafarullah Marwat, a former member of the provincial assembly, joined the party in July, Zahid Hussain said.
Omar Farooq Hoti announced his affiliation at a public meeting on July 27 in Mardan. He is the son of Khwaja Muhammad Khan Hoti, former federal minister and a dissident MNA from the Awami National Party. Omar Farooq is likely to get the party ticket in the next election from his native Mardan.
“The party will decide about allotment of tickets,” Omar Farooq said. “We are trying to make a winning combination. We have popular support and now we are working on finding appropriate candidates,” he added.
Omar Farooq said he was impressed by Imran Khan since long. He said he liked the PTI chief’s stance against corruption and the US drone attacks. He said his father, Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti will also join the party after Eidul Fitr.
Dr Mehr Taj Roghani, a paediatrician who served as provincial health minister in the Pervez Musharraf-led military government and her husband Dilawar Shah Roghani have also joined the PTI. Zahid Hussain said a number of politicians including former or current MNAs and MPAs were expected to join the party in future.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=61364&Cat=7&dt=8/6/2011
Saturday, August 06, 2011
PESHAWAR: Growing popularity of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) has attracted many prominent personalities to the party during the current year and raised the hopes of the party leadership for better results in the next general election.
The PTI chief Imran Khan has been so encouraged by the inflow of technocrats and politicians in his party that he foresees a clean sweep in the upcoming polls. The newcomers say they were impressed by Imran Khan’s stance on national issues and are confident that he is the one who can steer the country out of crises.
“Whoever doubts that Tehrik-e-Insaf will clean sweep the next election, they can bet on it,” an overconfident Imran Khan said after announcing dissolution of the party’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chapter on August 2 in Peshawar. However, he made it clear that the bet must be dinner, not money.
“Imran Khan to a dear friend in Islamabad: “I’ve been saying PTI will sweep the next election, now if you’re a betting man, put money on it,” a twitter message apparently posted by a PTI supporter said.
Polls show his party’s popularity has precipitously increased. Growing number of important personalities joining PTI has also added to the party’s strength but many believe that the claim of a sweeping victory appears unconvincing. Some say Imran has misread the political situation.
Among the people who joined PTI are Rustam Shah Mohmand and Maj General (R) Tajul Haq who announced their affiliation with the party on March 9. The former has served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan, chief secretary of KP (formerly called NWFP) and commissioner Afghan refugees.
“It’s a party that stands for truth,” Rustam Shah said when asked what prompted him to join the PTI. He said Imran Khan’s leadership was another factor that attracted him to the party. Tajul Haq, hailing from Nowshera district, has retired as Inspector General Frontier Corps.
Another prominent personality, Justice (R) Burhanuddin, joined the party some nine months ago. He was recently assigned by the party chairman to head a provincial organising committee that will prepare ground for holding intra-party elections within three months.
Dr Abdul Mateen, former vice chancellor University of Peshawar, who has specialised in economics, is said to have joined the PTI now. But a senior party member said he had been with the PTI since its inception in 1996 but remained inactive. Khalid Masood, a retired bureaucrat, was brought to the party fold in June.
“These people are mostly experts in education, foreign policy and health. They are the brain of the party and will be tasked to make policies for us,” said a senior leader of PTI Zahid Hussain.
To a question about fielding them in elections, Zahid Hussain said the party would look into that possibility. “They can be sent to the Senate,” he added. He claimed that the PTI had two to three candidates in every provincial assembly constituency, suggesting that they would be able to field candidates in all constituencies.
Some politicians who could be candidates in the next election have also joined PTI. Zafarullah Marwat, a former member of the provincial assembly, joined the party in July, Zahid Hussain said.
Omar Farooq Hoti announced his affiliation at a public meeting on July 27 in Mardan. He is the son of Khwaja Muhammad Khan Hoti, former federal minister and a dissident MNA from the Awami National Party. Omar Farooq is likely to get the party ticket in the next election from his native Mardan.
“The party will decide about allotment of tickets,” Omar Farooq said. “We are trying to make a winning combination. We have popular support and now we are working on finding appropriate candidates,” he added.
Omar Farooq said he was impressed by Imran Khan since long. He said he liked the PTI chief’s stance against corruption and the US drone attacks. He said his father, Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti will also join the party after Eidul Fitr.
Dr Mehr Taj Roghani, a paediatrician who served as provincial health minister in the Pervez Musharraf-led military government and her husband Dilawar Shah Roghani have also joined the PTI. Zahid Hussain said a number of politicians including former or current MNAs and MPAs were expected to join the party in future.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=61364&Cat=7&dt=8/6/2011
