News Analysis |
Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf’s ex-general secretary Jahangir Tareen’s hunt for the independent candidates has reached a decisive phase. Jahangir Tareen who is commonly known as JKT is leaving no stone unturned for PTI’s chief Imran Khan to make a government with a majority in Punjab and center. He is leading a gigantic task to woo the independent candidates to join PTI.
His efforts started making headlines when he was seen transporting at least four MPA’s from South Punjab to Bani Gala in his jet in only a day after the result in Punjab was announced. As per media reports, PTI chief has given him and his billionaire friend Aleem Khan the task to bring in as many independent candidates as possible to gain a majority in Punjab.
The extraordinary efforts of JKT have made headlines and opposition political parties are accusing PTI of buying the loyalties of MPA-elects.
The initial phase of this task was not very difficult because around a dozen elected candidate available were PTI members before elections. They were denied the PTI tickets but managed to win from different constituencies across the country.
The PTI membership before election paved way for the PTI’s bigwigs with deep pockets to lure them easily, to make government in Punjab, as well as in the center. The extraordinary efforts of JKT have made headlines and opposition political parties are accusing PTI of buying the loyalties of MPA-elects.
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Some of the members who joined PTI at Bani Gala denied these accusations and asserted that they have joined PTI based on its ideology. The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and PTI have secured 129 and 123 seats in Punjab assembly respectively. PTI underwent seat adjustment with PML-Q on a number of national seats. Moreover, some of their candidates were also favored in certain constituencies.
PML-Q has won 7 seats and has decided categorically to join PTI’s government in Punjab. PTI claims to have reached a magical figure where there is no way back for the majority party-PML-N in Punjab. PML-N and some political analysts argue that former should be allowed to make the government being a leading party in Punjab. But all the stakeholders are aware of the fact that without Punjab, PTI’s government in the center may not survive for long.
The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and PTI have secured 129 and 123 seats in Punjab assembly respectively. PTI underwent seat adjustment with PML-Q on a number of national seats.
And secondly, Punjab is the most populous province of the country and if PTI has to bring in the reforms in the country, Punjab is the key to it. PTI leadership was aware of it and secondly going into the election after seat adjustment allowed the party to include the PML-Q in its tally which makes its number greater than PML-N. The general sentiment of people was that voting PML-Q was voting PTI.
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However, JKT’s mission to woo independent has been successful thus far. Different pictures of him which are doing rounds on social media may be hilarious and at the same time have allowed the critics to bash the project- ‘Naya Pakistan’. But his efforts remain commendable given the fact that he had announced beforehand that once Imran will take oath as Prime Minister of the country, he will go home. On the face of it, it may look suspicious but his efforts are a testimony to his commitment to Imran’s mission to change the future of this country.