From your alliance with JI to Fauzia Kasuri, PTI you have disappointed me

Your supporters wanted you to react maturely and address Fauzia Kasuri's concerns rather than drive her away.

Ali Rafi June 08, 2013
Mr Imran Khan,

If it wasn’t for you, I would not be as politically aware as I like to think I am today, and for that you deserve complete credit. You have inspired a generation, won a province in the process and risen as the saviour to many citizens of this country.

As of a few days ago, I was one of those citizens.

I have been proud of being a part of the Tehreek-e-Insaf campaign for the 2013 elections. Going personally to hundreds of houses, volunteering at poll stations, campaigning across the city and attending rallies – these are things I would not have found interesting last year.

You rose as the option to the change that many sought. However, I have to say with a very heavy heart that you have let me down. The post-election attitude of being defeated, power struggles in KPK and certain coalitions have made these very shaky weeks for your party.

For starters, Sir, the promise of youth empowerment drowned with the installment of a senior-citizen and five-time assembly-elect as the chief minister of KPK, the biggest position your party had to fill.

As for the Taliban, Sir, I have always had an ideological difference with you over the issue, but I decided to give you the benefit of doubt. I realised there was no harm in letting you try, and negotiations might achieve things I could not foresee. But I can no longer support a party that seeks to negotiate with terrorists that have killed my fellow brethren and is at war with the armed forces of my country.

To establish that you have no clash with the Taliban in your first few words after being given control of KPK took me, and a portion of your supporters, by surprise. It takes a certain level of naivety, Sir, to be that apathetic to the ideological clash between the Taliban and the people of Pakistan. More so, after they have been responsible for severe bloodshed in my country, blood that will be on your hands if these men are not held accountable post-negotiations.

On the topic of ideological differences, I have also been very disappointed with the decision to form a partnership with Jamaat-i-Islami. It is evident that parties on the basis of religious segregation are not the solution to a progressive Pakistan that you have put so much effort into.

Recently, Sir, I have followed closely the case of Mrs Fauzia Kasuri and have been extremely frustrated and let down at how the PTI leadership has managed the situation. While I agree to the claim that Fauzia Kasuri did not merit a seat solely on reputation, the inter-party elections ranking her fourth in Punjab case was never brought forward by you or your party.

I feel that your disregard for the situation and a 17 year devotee of your party shows how much the priorities and ideologies have changed in Tehreek-e-Insaf. I have also been let down by the supporters, and some relatives of party members, who took seconds to start criticising Fauzia Kasuri on Twitter.



To treat such a senior member of your party with such disregard shows the lack of maturity existing in the party.

Your struggle of 17 years has been aided by the members that have sided with you ever since. Mrs Kasuri has been dedicated, loyal and firm in supporting you, evident by her recent decision to sacrifice dual-nationality coupled with the monetary and labour contributions she has endowed to the party and its cause.

It was now time to give back.

The problem that most PTI supporters and leadership failed to understand was that the struggle was never for a seat, it was for recognition and merit. The reply we sought was not for you to award her a seat, but for you to be able to address her concerns rather than apparently try to drive her away by being indifferent to her concerns.

I waited for you, Sir, to come on television with Mrs Fauzia Kasuri announcing to have settled differences, that was the involvement and dedication we wanted to see from our kaptaan.

I hope you or one of your party representatives takes out the time to see this, and you realise the responsibility on your shoulders to deliver to the people of Pakistan. It is not only vital for the future of the country, but for the faith of the populace in the democratic process that you deliver.

I wish you all the best, for Pakistan’s sake.

Sincerely,

A disillusioned ex-PTI supporter.

Read more by Ali here.
WRITTEN BY:
Ali Rafi A student of Economics/Political Science at the Lahore University of Management Sciences.
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (80)

Beep | 10 years ago | Reply Excellent piece. The Kasuri thing and the JI thing can be condoned, but to not have a problem with the Taliban? the people stoning our women, executing our choildren, bombing our cities, and shooting our citizens? IF you are trying to get the Taliban sympathizer vote then shame on you Sir. And to anyone defending Imran's political strategies, please recall the kids the Taliban skinned a few weeks back.
ALYGANDRO | 10 years ago | Reply I feel Imran has to be transparent with the process and prove it to the world that PTI as a party is fair. I am keen to say to PTI supporters to calm down
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