PTI Vice Chairman and former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s daughter Meher Bano Qureshi will contest the NA-157 by-polls as a PTI nominee. The development comes after his son Zain Qureshi vacated the seat.
While addressing a press conference with his son MPA Zain Qureshi, Shah Mehmood Qureshi introduced his daughter’s candidature. He announced that the PTI had decided to field Meher Bano Qureshi for the NA-157 by-poll.
Qureshi advocated a stronger role for women in mainstream political activities and added that his daughter was an educated mother who could play an active role in the development of the country.
He also said that elections were no more reliant on the role of beraderies or personalities, rather, it was a contest between ideologies.
Read more: Pakistan Politics: Race to the bottom
Interestingly, when asked if he was promoting dynastic politics, he claimed the party had sought an opinion from party workers in NA-157 and they supported her. However, many netizens do not agree with Shah Mehmood Qureshi and have accused PTI of supporting dynastic politics.
Dynastic politics in PTI?
To clarify, dynastic politics is when multiple members of the same family are involved in politics. While the family may have the best interests at heart for the country, there is no denying that dynastic politics promotes a culture of nepotism. Better and qualified candidates are overlooked to favor family members.
The culture of dynastic politics is extremely predominant in Pakistan where PPP run by the Bhutto-Zardari family and PML-N run by the Sharif clan are in power. From PPP, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was the prime minister in 70’s, his daughter Shaheed Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto also became the prime minister, meanwhile, her husband Asif Ali Zardari served as the president. Now their son Bilawal Bhutto is the Foreign Minister.
Read more: Secret of prosperity of dynastic politics in Pakistan
On the other hand, from PML-N, Nawaz Sharif served as the prime minister for three non-consecutive terms. The incumbent Prime Minister of Pakistan is his brother Shehbaz Sharif who was also once the Chief Minister of Punjab. Shehbaz Sharif’s son Hamza recently became the Chief Minister of Punjab however he was ousted.
When PTI came into politics and subsequently into power, it was extremely against dynastic politics and vowed to put an end to it. PTI Chairman Imran Khan has also, on numerous occasions, lashed out at PPP and PML-N for promoting dynastic politics.
Therefore, with Meher Bano Qureshi now contesting NA-157 by-polls, netizens are questioning the change in PTI ideology and wondering whether there was not anyone more qualified in Multan than Meher Bano, who worked as a journalist.
We dont want family oriented politics. #NA157 pic.twitter.com/RnqV4CtN1u
— Bilal Lodhi (@Lodhi_tweets) August 5, 2022
Say no to nepotism..Absolutely Not we are not Patwari that accept it..
Really disappointed @ImranKhanPTI@PTIofficial#NA157 pic.twitter.com/ZZECbxnvG7— Saim wazir♥️ (@Tasimwazir) August 5, 2022
https://twitter.com/RaoSadaqatAli99/status/1555382656631709697?s=20&t=fyaRem7dHBykGFrLy2dS7w
PTI gives #NA157 ticket Mehrbano Qureshi, daughter of Shah Mehmod Qureshi and sister Of Zain Qureshi. Is this PTI’s jihad dynastic politics and oligarchy? Mehrbano says only she can fight the imperialist capitalist forces after winning the election pic.twitter.com/tKvWjtcpLr
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) August 4, 2022
The Mighty PTI Has Given The Ticket Of #NA157 To Mehrbano Qureshi, Daughter of Shah Mehmod Qureshi and Sister Of Zain Qureshi.
The Same #ImranKhan who always criticized #PMLN And #PPP for dynastic politics and oligarchy ends up being like them?#موروثی_سیاست_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/6NQy4WE9te— Dawood Awan 🇵🇰 (@dawoodumarawan) August 4, 2022