Sunday, July 5, 2015

Pakistan : (#PTI) Losing credibility

Once again the impulsive nature of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has created an embarrassing situation for the party. The PTI has split into two groups and its central leadership is busy clearing up the mess created by their outspoken chief who has now said that the allegations of 35 punctures was merely political talk. A debate was triggered when PTI leader Dr Arif Alivi through his twitter account underscored the need for tendering an apology over making false allegations against then caretaker chief minister Najam Sethi for his alleged involvement in fixing 35 punctures while other top leaders of the PTI including Nadeemul Haq and Jehangir Tareen termed it Alvi’s personal view and added that instead of 35, 71 punctures were fixed. The controversy regarding 35 punctures first started through social media in 2014, when a PTI leader tweeted on the matter. The tweet alleged that Najam Sethi called Nawaz Sharif on the night of May 13, 2013, and told him that he had fixed 35 punctures. That meant he had allegedly rigged elections in 35 Punjab constituencies. It prompted Imran Khan to launch an onslaught of allegations and character assassination against Mr Sethi without confirming the authenticity of the story that was based on hearsay.

If the allegation of 35 punctures was merely political talk, then what is the credibility of other claims made by Imran Khan regarding alleged rigging in the 2013 elections? The sudden u-turn of Imran Khan has bewildered his supporters, who are uncertain what to do now. How can a politician like Imran Khan lead a nation when he banks on false accusations for achieving political motives? Where are the ethics and moral values of the PTI? Who will trust the PTI after such irresponsible statements? The contradictory nature of Imran Khan’s policies and his impulsive nature have made his credibility doubtful and the result is that his party has been facing a gradual downslide as well as isolation from the public at large.

The PTI in its initial years had posed itself as the saviour of the nation but due to consistently changing stances over different issues, including the current one by its founder, has evoked for Imran the label ‘U-turn Khan’. The masses are really getting disappointed with the politics of the PTI. Imran and his PTI colleagus need to learn: Your tongue can either be your friend or enemy to the expressions of your feelings, so keep a tight rein over it. Dr Alvi has taken an honest stance and the party leadership should stand by it instead of telling more lies to the nation. 

http://dailytimes.com.pk/editorial/04-Jul-2015/losing-credibility

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