PTI against postponement of by-polls, Imran may contest from Rawalpindi NA-55

[Naveed Yaseen]

Mumtaz Alvi
Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) is mulling over fielding its Chairman Imran Khan from NA-55 (Rawalpindi), anticipating support of Jamaat-e-Islami and other like-minded parties for his candidature.

“Yes, PTI’s Steering Committee’s crucial two-day session has been summoned for October 02 to take a decision on his possible participation in the by-election,” confirmed the party’s Secretary General Arif Alvi, when The News contacted him on telephone. October 04 is the last date for filing of nomination papers that is why the meeting has been fixed accordingly, he added.

It is widely believed in Islamabad and Rawalpindi that Imran’s plunge into the foray could give an interesting turn to the by-election, which is yet to see PML-N and PPP formally naming candidates. However, Jamaat-e-Islami has fielded Dr Muhammad Kamal, who hails from Wah Cantt, but he has settled down now in Rawalpindi.

When Arif Alvi was reminded of his party’s poor show in 2002 general election from Rawalpindi, he played it down and said the contest was held seven years ago and this time there was a possibility of Imran taking part in the electoral process.

“The voter is conscious and knows well, which party goes for rhetoric and which upholds principles come what may,” he maintained. He added the stepping in of both Imran from Rawalpindi and Nawaz Sharif from Lahore in the parliament would augur well for democracy. However, he was quick to add it all depended on the party’s steering committee decision.

Imran Khan’s spokesman Zahid Hussain Kazmi, who also hails from Rawalpindi, claimed they were receiving thousands of emails and phone calls from public, advocating Imran’s taking part in the upcoming by-election.

Talking to this correspondent, Kazmi said 85 per cent people were fed up with PPP and PML-N policies and wanted a change for the better. He contended PTI leader had linked participation in election to the restoration of judiciary and after it has been restored, he was expected to take part in the electoral process if the steering committee gave a nod on this count.

“In case, Imran Khan contests the by-election, PTI will not seek other parties’ support for him, but it is quite likely the like-minded forces will back him unconditionally,” he said. Imran Khan, who had boycotted the 2008 election, however, may not contest the election and wait for the next general elections. In his place, a local influential figure Ijaz Khan Jazi could finally be given go-ahead for the electoral bout, some party circles believed.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=200635
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THE Pakistan Tehreek-e-Isnaaf (PTI) has opposed the idea of postponing by-polls and termed petition filed by the Punjab government in the Election Commission for postponement of by-polls a move to save itself from defeat.

The PTI camp which appeared annoyed with the Punjab government over the decision to postpone Local Government (LG) polls earlier has lambasted the Punjab government for filing petition for the postponement of by-polls in Punjab due to security reasons.

Talking to The News, Central Information Secretary Omar Sarfaraz Cheema stated that PTI strictly opposed the idea of by-polls postponement which clearly indicated that the Punjab government had accepted defeat in elections.

He said it seemed that the Punjab government didn’t want to participate in polls just because of the failure of its policy and poor performance in the province. He said there was no justification for demanding postponement of polls where people had been waiting for months for new representative who could raise voice for them.

To a question, he said the PTI would decide its future course of action while considering all likeminded political forces adding there was no justification to postpone the by-polls. Cheema said it seemed that the Punjab government was scared of free media and independent judiciary and feared that polls could well expose its failure to address public issues.

When asked if the PTI planned to field Imran Khan from either of the vacant NA seats including NA-55 and NA-123, Omar stated so far no decision had been made in this regard. To another question about supporting Mian Nawaz Sharif, the PML-N Quaid from NA-123 in case if polls were held, he said so far the party hadn’t made any decision in this regard. He said the PTI had potential candidates in all the constituencies and a very robust party organization was working in the country. The by-polls would clearly show the trust public had in the PTI, he said.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=200657