A change of heart in the making

I have to confess. I am somewhat disappointed at the trend that is noticed from the public when it comes to political sloganism and die-hard loyalties. Please allow me to elaborate, and make clear the fact that this is not to nitpick or criticize just one political party. But as the saying goes you expect more from those you hope in the most and know they’re capable.

Formation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise chronically toxic environment of political blackmail, corruption, lack of commitment among other ills that are often seen from seasoned politicians whose goals revolve around being elected and remaining relevant no matter the cost.

However, what I have observed, and this is just my personal observation is that a majority of us are morphing into the same thing as the followers of the past. The entire attack-mode mechanism, lack of tolerance for differing opinions, and short temper are ills that at least I had hoped would never seep into a political party that is very promising. I still have not lost hope, and I do still feel that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf comes able to deliver.

What I fear is that the borderline supporters, and skeptics are probably being driven away because of the attitude of a number of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf followers’ overall attitude and the degrading manner in interaction. The fault for this does not fall on the leaders of the party, but rather the individuals themselves. Since this political party comprises largely of educated, and youth, it would be more conducive if they became ambassadors of Change and did service to the party by educating others on Party’s vision, goals, and by actively listening, and tolerating criticism. How is the attitude of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf followers any different than the followers of other political parties? This is not the change I hope to see increase. Being tech savvy is a great skillset to have, but to use it to plaster the same degrading material that parties of the old plaster on walls in Pakistan is not an achievement; it’s a disservice to the party. Those energies should be spent solidifying perception of honor, dignity, and respect for all.

I really do wish that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf followers would hold themselves to a supreme standard because that’s what the nation expects from a party that offers a glimmer of hope, and a change the country is very much in need of. To achieve that, and win over hearts and minds will require a major shift in softening of interaction with others, and attitude as a whole. You see the issue is not that what is being said is wrong, or the rebuttals are not justified. But consider the perception that is being created. At the end of the day your cause will inevitably become linked to the perception that is set up. Media manipulation definitely exists, but social engineering is still done by individuals and interaction. This is an area where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf affiliates need to do a full sweep and win over people by presenting and setting in place a perception that this is a party of mature individuals, supported by mature followers who will become a supply line of mature leaders for decades to come. I do believe Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf affiliates are a very intelligent, well-versed, and motivated pool of individuals who are capable of delivering leadership.

Needless to say, any commentary that is not on-point, constructive, or is trolling in nature will be removed.

The purpose of this thread is just to highlight what is missing from Tehreek-e-Insaaf and to offer solutions or what you expect to see. If you have nothing constructive to say, then please don’t post.

Re: A change of heart in the making

In my opinion its the constant assault of criticism, same old accusations thrown again and again on your political leadership is what eventually breaks down the will to be different/better, that is my observation of course. If you are interacting with people from opponent political parties VERY frequently then it takes a toll on your mind and you eventually lose grip on yourself, and eventually you join the level of other party supporters who are opposing you. Eventually nowadays most of threads in PA begin from glorification of one's party and in same opening post you will find insults hurled at other parties regardless of the topic/content of the thread.

Re: A change of heart in the making

That's definitely a factor in it, and it can't be ignored. No knock on PTI supporters, because it is definitely an uphill task and requires a few hours of zen just to detox everyday. But the more corrupt and twisted the logic and system, the harder of an effort it will require to cleanse and set it straight if not for current generation then the coming ones. People who strive for better will always be remembered in that manner, and technically succeed at individual level. Every individual should be a walking, talking manifesto of their political party because that's what politics is; what politics have become is not what it was intended to be.

Re: A change of heart in the making

PTI, as it was formed, is largely dead. The most important aspect of the idea of PTI, the I i.e. Insaf, is no more emphasized even within party decisions. The idea is very attractive specially for Pakistanis abroad, many of whom are willing to return to Pakistan or invest here only if 'insaf' is ensured.

The party has been taken over by opportunists the same way as any other political party. IK has surrounded himself with them and 'change' is a mere slogan now. There are reports, for example, that SMQ's son would contest by elections in Multan against Hashmi. Is this 'change' against dynastic politics?

The remedy is quite simple actually. Imran Khan should oversee another intra-party elections, which should be conducted in a manner that he is demanding "free and fair" national elections to be held. All party positions, including chairman, should be filled with fresh elections with no 'dhandli'. This would eventually mean shuffling KPK government as well.

As far as followers are concerned, they are super frustrated by the "system" and engage in behavior to vent out that frustration in a manner typical Pakistanis engage in, only that they have relatively more access to social media. Despite the fact that a lot of criticism they receive is unwarranted, there is a need for 'educating' them.

A lot of 'political commentators', 'columnists' and 'anchors' criticize PTI people for 'abusing' them. They should remember that it is not 1990s anymore when people used to abuse them in conversations in galli muhalla but had no means to channel that abuse to larger audience. If you give access to your personal email accounts, phone numbers and twitter handle to public, you should brace yourself for criticism and opposing views as well. The abuse and threats received by Jon Stewart or Rush Limbaugh, for example, is thousand times more than what Pakistani equivalents receive but you don't see them crying about it all the time.

Re: A change of heart in the making

Times have changed now.... like above post's said its not 1990's.

As for me, I have been a observant for so many years and yea still am. I will not call myself a die hard PTI follower as many call themselves. The reason being that... if i was to open a company and would hand pick ppl from the market which have already a "history" with them in accordance with say corruption, bad mouthing or whatsoever!!! will i be making the right decision to form up a alliance which already have ppl with such backgrounds???? no i wont!!! what i have understood so far from what i am seeing (again its my personal opinion) is that Imran being NOT from a political background needed such "names" so that he can be in the lime light. But was that decision "the right one"?????

whats happening now is we have a 30+ long era or Sharif family, who are still in power. Do i just go and ask resignation and yeah, for once will he give???? NO he wont!!!! the approach is wrong here. Celebrations dancing and taranaaz and stuff only looks good when you have "achieved" something. I cant see any solid achievement.

As for provoking or bringing awareness in youth, there are many measures that can be done, take social media for instance. Having ppl bound and isolate them from their normal lives is not "tabdeeli" or ":jadojehad" or you can call it anything.

I honestly believe Imran should and STILL CAN do better than following footsteps of the existing legendary party members, who have done seen and been there... kinda deal. He was and still can be the face of the youth. But for that you don't go out and expose your opposition but you find a proper agenda in sense how to challenge the government rather just sitting on a container and doing nothing.

He should utilize every single resource available to him rather utilizing common man

Re: A change of heart in the making

Ask yourself if the Interior Punjab and Sindh are ready to vote for a farmer's son. Dynastic politics problem (even Bhutto had to include feudals in his otherwise progressive party that was founded by educated bunch) will not go away in just 5 years. Either you follow French Revolution path, or you gradually bring change. You need to impose education emergency in the country for 15 years with a big chunk of budget dedicated to it, upgrade school system and curriculum, legislate mandatory education till grade 12, scholarships and sponsorship programs for poor. You need to insert a new soul in the nation (like Japenese, Koreans and German did). Then you can wipe out all Chaudhry, Waderay and Shah JIs from the political scene.

Your expectations are as its not Pakistan but a Western educated society. If Imran Khan successfully implement only 40% of its agenda, our next generations will look back and will give him a hats off. And I am not talking about Imran Khan, the PTI chief, but the ideology he has given to the nation.

Re: A change of heart in the making

Yes. I suppose that does give rise to the entire set of expectations. It's a double-edged sword because ex-patriots are also a large number of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf supporters. But what you said may be the truth that we would like Pakistan to have a streamlined system in place just like we experience. And it's not a bad thing to expect, because we only hope for it for our loved ones, the Pakistanis who are our link to the land where we and our parents may have migrated from. A big part of us yearns to return, and give to the country like kakaballi said, but the turmoil puts a damper on those prospects.

Though there is still much hope, and it is hope upon hope that keeps us going.

Re: A change of heart in the making

Even if he gets rids of status quo and gets electoral reforms we will still be debted to him

Re: A change of heart in the making

What you say is compatible with what I said.

Have an internal election in PTI, and if people want SMQ's son to contest elections in Multan, that's fair enough. Right now, he is contesting elections because he is SMQ's son.

If people vote feudals, then they would also vote feudals in internal elections. That way at least we have some transparency and people would not be able to point fingers.

Bhutto's was himself a feudal lord. He spent more than a decade in the corridors of power including holding ministerial positions under a dictator before launching his party. The comparison is not valid.

Re: A change of heart in the making

At times as history has shown, when you fight a long fight against a monster, in the end you become that monster yourself (unknowingly).

What PTI was accusing of other parties are the same things they are doing and a point has come where PTI fans justify the party's deeds with similar action of other parties in the past.

Let me go on a limb here and say that other parties have karkuns but PTI has fans.

Re: A change of heart in the making

wah wah kia bat hay janab :cobra: lekin fans ko blind followers sey change kar dein pleze :@:

#pti_bf](http://www.paklinks.com/gs/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=pti_bf)

Re: A change of heart in the making

As per Dawn, this is an 'unconfirmed' report (a rumour in other words). I'll wait till he's actually given a ticket. Similar brouhaha and knee jerk reaction was induced by the media over Hashmi's so called dismissal from the party. I remember all the writs slitting that went over that news. They all made us believe that PTI is finished, until poor old Hashmi gave countless statement to the media to confirm that he's still the president of the party, and can only be kicked out by the party.

As with Shah Mehmood Quershi looking to make stride in interior Sindh under PTI's banner, I for one have absolutely no problem with that. Imran can spend another 20 years of campaigning in politics, and chances are neither him nor likes of Asad Umar will manage to exert any influence in interior Sindh or Balochistan on their own. They would need the help of local players to rise up and spread their message.

Despite all the unwanted criticism, SMQ face, many people - who are not fashionably cynics - are willing to at least acknowledge that he's really coming out of his shell. Leaving his pompous privileges of Foreign Minister and senior parliamentarian behind, he's on the roads in Karachi and campaigning like a party worker. People who know SMQ can tell you that his current role is a massive political downgrade for him.

Re: A change of heart in the making

yea with a Range Rover in the backyard :meeno:

Re: A change of heart in the making

Please tell us what that ideology is & what are concrete plans that he has put forward? B/c if standing on a container everyday and doing gali galoch & saying how he will hang sitting prime minster with his own hands is an ideology than perhaps we should be cautious about what we asking for.

Re: A change of heart in the making

What does that mean?

Re: A change of heart in the making

what i meant was regardless of SMQ downgrading himself he still has the likes of Range Rover and other luxury assets in which he likes to roam around the town. Quite a wealthy guy i must say :chai:

Re: A change of heart in the making

Does he have any corruption charges

If any please bring it forward with proofs

Re: A change of heart in the making

Plenty of people in Pakistan who have nothing to do with politics and don’t hold any political affiliation enjoy the same luxuries as SMQ. There are wealthy and rich people in Pakistan, you know. Unless you are a staunch Socialist and want to see some kind of Bolshevik Revolution in Pakistan, then I won’t debate any further.

Re: A change of heart in the making

when did i say he has corruption charges :konfused:

Re: A change of heart in the making

:omg: