Rachael Mack
Citizen
Inflow into PTI has slowed but party hopes polls will spur new arrivals
Tariq Butt
Saturday, November 24, 2012
From Print Edition
Islamabad
While a steady stream of electables is joining the PML-N especially in Punjab and some influential aspirants have associated with the PML-Q, there is a full stop to politically powerful entrants in the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI).
However, Imran Khan’s party is hopeful of a sudden surge in fresh inductions as the upcoming general elections will draw close.
“During that interlude, a number of important figures will align with us after they will not get sponsorships of their parties to contest polls,” a key PTI leader told The News.
Several months back, the PTI saw a great rush of leading newcomers including Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Jehangir Tareen rushing towards it.
Most of them are still sticking to their new destination, but some key notables have said goodbye to it after being disenchanted with its policies.
The PML-Q is too happy over the halt to desertions from its ranks that were racing towards the PTI, and at one time it appeared as if a lion’s share of this party has gone to Imran Khan’s squad and the rest will follow the suit.
“We were naturally perturbed over massive departures, but that phase is now over as important figures have realized that the PTI is not going to create a mark in the electoral politics,” a prominent PML-Q leader said.
However, the PTI stalwart is of the view that the party’s old guard is satisfied that the “tested, tried and discarded” political lot has left it with the same pace it came to the party.
He said that the “ideological workers” were greatly disturbed over the domination of the newcomers and kept asserting that it was unjust and unfair to accord too much credence to the new inductees.
“This class was not reliable, and it was expected they would run away one day as they have been doing with previous parties they have been associated with for years,” he said.
As the 2013 parliamentary polls near, the political birds in search of greener pastures are preferring to opt for the PML-N, considering it a safe bet particularly in Punjab. However, the PML-N is yet to make another major dent in the PML-Q.
The PML-Q’s real test will come when the election schedule would be announced because some of its senior leaders concede that a number of its powerful persons, including some ministers and federal and provincial legislators, will either go to the PML-N or the PPP as they are already in contact with these parties.
However, the PTI seems to be the last option of such deserters and other influential candidates. Had the elections been held early this year, it was expected to bewilder the PML-N and PPP as it was then at the peak of its popularity. But as the time passed, it consistently lost. PTI leaders fear that it may suffer more as there are still at least five months to go before the polls will be held if all goes well.
Noted PTI leader Sadaqat Abbasi told The News that several prominent figures of different parties, who are in government, are in touch with his party. “They are willing to join our team but are temporarily staying with their present parties to get maximum benefits from the government.”
He said a number of such personalities have told the PTI that they are sticking with the ruling parties to get development funds for their areas that will bring dividends to them in the next elections. As this phase will be over, they will switch over to the PTI, he hoped.
Another PTI leader said it was the first time in Pakistan’s history that a political party is holding internal elections from the grass roots to the highest level. This shows that the PTI truly believes in democracy in its own ranks, he said.
He said that the recent unfolding of the economic policy by the party has been received well at the public level. He said it has earned favourable reaction from the intelligentsia, which was satisfying.
The PTI leader said that policies relating to education and others vital sectors would signal a message of hope to the youth that this party has made public the programme for change.
Among the political parties, the PML-N is working very hard to wean away some really key PTI figures to serve the party a major jolt. For obvious reasons, the PTI and PML-Q are its major targets.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-Ne...-but-party-hopes-polls-will-spur-new-arrivals
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