Zubair Qureshi Islamabad
Despite a setback on Islamabad’s seat in the March 3 Senate elections, Prime Minister Imran Khan has emerged as a man of crisis re-enkindling hope of the masses for a corruption-free, progressive and peaceful Pakistan.
In his televised address to the nation a day after the defeat of the government-supported candidate Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh against the 11-party opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister Imran re-affirmed his belief that destiny of the country lies in across-the-board action against corrupt elements.
Polling for 37 seats of the Senate concluded on Wednesday with the ruling party PTI bagging 18 new seats, including the five that had been elected unopposed, earlier in Punjab.
However, despite being the largest parliamentary party in the Senate, PTI lost its crucial seat from Islamabad in the Upper House as Yousuf Raza Gilani won the hotly-contested general seat from Islamabad, beating PTI’s Abdul Hafeez Shaikh.
However, like a leader who steers the ship of his country’s fate from troubled waters, Imran Khan gave his supporters who were in a state of shock and bewilderment at this unexpected blow a new hope, a new ray of light in the darkness of ‘corruption and corrupt practices.’
Accusing the winning candidate of manoeuvring his way to victory, Khan said he would seek a vote of confidence from Parliament on Saturday. “If I lose, I will happily sit on the Opposition benches,” he said.
Imran Khan’s move has put the 11-party alliance of the opposition on the defensive as in case Khan achieves the number (172) it will demonstrate how deep-rooted corruption is in Pakistan politics.
This is a clever move by Prime Minister Imran Khan, said Ali Nawaz Awan Special Assistant to PM on CDA Affairs and an MNA from Islamabad adding it would expose the so-called men of conscience as it is going to be open ballot.
No doubt, money worked in the election and since it was done through a secret ballot, the dissidents went Scott Free, he further said.
However Saturday (today) is going to be a real test for these so-called prisoners of conscience, he said and dared the dissenters to come forward openly and refuse to cast their vote of confidence to the prime minister.
