News
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
PTI, PML-N to have close contest in Punjab: Imran* Party chief says PPP stands nowhere in province
* 35% party tickets awarded to youth
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Khan on Monday said that the real contest in Punjab would be between his party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the upcoming general election, and that the PPP stands nowhere in polls.
“There will be a close contest between the PTI and the PML-N in Punjab, as PPP would face the wrath of the masses in the coming elections due to its dismal five-year performance,” he said while addressing a press conference.
Imran Khan said that President Asif Ali Zardari did to the PPP what even dictators could not do with the party – he devastated it and minimised its electoral gains for the upcoming election.
“I think that this election would be a repeat of 1992 world cup. We also had 80 percent youngsters in the world cup and our team was a blend of youth and experience. I think the PTI ticket holders would also be a blend of young talent and experience. The results of the coming elections would be like a world cup 1992 and the PTI would be emerged victorious with the support of the masses,” he maintained.
Imran Khan said that only new leadership could bring a change, as the other parties remained in power turn by turn for the last two-and-a-half-decade.
The PTI chairman said that the PPP and PML-N had been partners in the Punjab government for three-and-a-half years, while they had been partners in Balochistan till the last day.
“They were actually one on all issues. The PML-N leaders’ statements are on record that he had helped the PPP regime complete its tenure. Now the PML-N wanted to take its turn. The nation would no more allow this game of musical chairs to continue and a change is a must,” he added.
He said the upcoming election would be historic, both in terms of turnout and participation of youth. He said the PTI had awarded 35 percent of the party tickets to the youth – a landmark achievement by all means as no other political party has ever awarded 80 percent of its tickets to those who have never been a member of any assembly and were contesting election for the first time.
He said that the average age of the party candidates was 47, with 80 new faces. He said that tickets had been given to those who had been recommended by local chapters of the party.
He said the PTI has blocked the doors on those in the habit of changing loyalties. He said that the nation was going towards historic elections, which would rid the country of the corrupt and inept politicians.
“We will fight a decisive battle in the upcoming elections and we would have a new system. We will give them a new Pakistan. Now the people should come out of their houses and vote and support our young leaders. I tell you that 40 million new and young voters would make a difference in the upcoming elections.
He promised that the PTI would not accommodate the relatives of party leadership on seats reserved for women in assemblies, and that merit would be sole criteria for it.
“We have decided that no party tickets would be awarded to any relative of the party leaders. I have myself scrutinised the lists and made sure that no relative of any party leaders is awarded party ticket,” he added. “This is the beginning of a revolution in the country, as old faces associated with corruption and bad governance cannot bring about any change.”
He said that only new faces could bring radical changes in the country ruined by old faces over the years.
Imran said that the PTI had changed the “musical chair game” in politics. He said that the politics of ideology came to an end in 1985, and now vested interests dominated politics. He also launched the New Pakistan Fund on the occasion and urged the people to contribute to this fund for bringing change in the country. staff report
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk