Daily Times

Sir: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf won around 30 to 35 seats for the National Assembly in the May 11, 2013 general elections. This has disappointed many workers, supporters of the PTI; even many PTI leaders are stunned by the result. The PTI’s chairman, Imran Khan, has been claiming for the last two years that his party would sweep the elections and, because of his tall claims, people were expecting at least 130 to 140 seats for the PTI. However, many PTI leaders knew that the party would only win 35 to 40 seats. Independent and credible analysts were also of the view that despite Imran’s Khan tall claims, the PTI would only be able to win around 40 seats. Some big media persons also suggested that Imran Khan’s party would win 40 to 50 seats.

The PTI spent billions of rupees on media campaigns like the PML-N so people were expecting that they would give a tough fight to the PML-N, which did not happen; the PML-N won the elections easily and, in Punjab, they outclassed the PTI. The PTI is claiming now that massive rigging has been done all over Pakistan. This is true in some constituencies and videos have also been circulated on the internet. Rigging claims must be proved by evidence. Many videos have been making the rounds on social media and it is time the ECP take notice of all the rigging claims. However, the PTI has contested this election excellently and has emerged as second biggest party in Pakistan, which is a big victory for the PTI. After the October 30, 2011 PTI jalsa in Lahore, the PML-N worked a lot all over Punjab winning those hearts that had been disappointed with it. The PTI was too busy in intra-party elections, which hurt its preparation for the general elections.

MUBASHIR MAHMOOD

Karachi