Lodhran win infused new spirit in PTI

‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’ on Wednesday

KARACHI: Presenting his analysis in the programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’ on Wednesday, the host said after several defeats in by-elections and local bodies’ election the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf got a new life after winning Lodhran by-election of NA 154. Siddiq Baloch, however, lost the election. It was interesting that more votes were cast in this election.

Shahzeb Khanzada said the matter of power to Rangers was getting serious with every passing day. The Sindh government had not remained silent on the issue and had told the Centre that the step it had taken was extra-constitutional. Important decisions had been taken in the meeting of the Sindh cabinet.

The Sindh chief minister would call the prime minister and speak on the matter of powers to Rangers and would also write to the prime minister on Sindh government’s stance on the matter.

Shahzeb Khanzada said the security protocol of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari resulted into the death of a sick baby who could not reach the hospital and died without treatment in the hands of her father. The government should differentiate between security and protocol. When the matter of death of the child was reported on the medial, the PPP leaders were seen criticising the media. There was very objectionable attitude of the PPP leaders.

Shahzeb Khanzada said it was the responsibility of the government to provide security to political leaders including Bilawal, but differentiating between protocol and security was the responsibility of the political leaders. They would have to understand that the protocol should not be used at the entrances of the hospitals and way should be left there on the roads for the passage of ambulances. It should also be seen that the political elders should not react in such non-serious manner.

Shahzeb Khanzada said four cases had been sent to the military courts so far, while 93 accused had been arrested in the terrorism act, out of which only seven had been punished.

Senior analyst Talat Hussain said that the PTI needed a win in Lodhran. He said there was not a contest between N-League and the PTI; it was a contest between Jahangir Tareen and Siddiq Baloch. There was the factor of money in the win of Jahangir Tareen. It would be wonderful if Jahangir Tareen had not congratulated the army. Actually, both Jahangir Tareen and Siddiq Baloch had no confidence in the Election Commission.

Leader of Tehreek-e-Insaf Shafqat Mahmood said they were grateful to Allah for the win in Lodhran. He said the results of the NA 154 had proved that the elections of 2013 were rigged and the results were changed. Jahangir Tareen was ahead with 25,000 votes in the 2013 election but he was declared defeated when he awoke in the morning. He said the Lodhran election had proved the stance of the PTI. He said the PTI would become more popular with the Lodhran elections.

He said similar to the election in Lodhran, the election on NA-122 was also held under the supervision of army but the election at both places was different. In Lodhran, Jahangir Tareen won while Alim Khan lost in NA-122 with 2,500 votes. He said the results of the constituencies wherever there were impartial voters were before everyone. Shafqat Mahmood said the contest in NA-154 was between N-League and the PTI. There was no contest of the JDW and Kanju Group. He said there were more of his efforts in the victory of Jahangir Tareen. He said Jahangir Tareen was very popular in Tehreek-e-Insaf. His victory in Lodhran was the victory of PTI. He said the PTI would win if there were impartial elections. He said the PTI would continue its efforts for the electoral reforms. “Our focus is the election of 2018, for which we shall prepare well,” he said and added they were not going for new Dharna. They had decided in principle to hold the party election in a few months from now.

The legal adviser to Sindh Chief Minister Murtaza Wahab said the Sindh government had not sent any summary to the Central government. He said they had written a letter to the Centre, which should have sent it back if it had any objection. He said the Sindh government used its constitutional right in the assembly in the matter of Rangers’ power. He said the centre had interfered in the affairs of the province by giving powers to Rangers. The Anti-terrorist Act could not be given preference on the Constitution of the country. He said the Rangers did not have the authority to take action against corruption. Chaudhry Nisar should show where it written that the Rangers had the authority for action against corruption.