Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced the “Awami Raabta” campaign for the upcoming local government elections in Punjab after Month of Ramazan.

The announcement came following a meeting between PTI Central Organizer Jahangir Tareen and Punjab Organizer Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar on Tuesday at latter’s office in Lahore on Tuesday. Both the leaders discussed political landscape of the country and the upcoming local bodies’ elections strategy. Later, addressing a joint press conference, PTI leaders said that party would hold public meetings, rallies and gatherings in every nook and corner of Punjab and in each union council. Lauding the efforts of Sarwar, Tareen expressed full confidence of PTI’s central command on preparations for Punjab LG elections due in September this year.

Sarwar said that the leaders and workers from other parties were joining PTI unconditionally and that is a testimony to rising popularity of the party ahead of LG elections. He categorically stated that the decision to award party tickets in upcoming elections would be taken purely on merit and by the parliamentary boards of each respective district. Any grievances on award of tickets would also be heard at the local level across the party.

He further told that 28 District Organizers have been appointed so far in Central Punjab with consultations of the local party workers. There is no more grouping in PTI Punjab, he announced saying that Imran Khan’s ideology of merit and honesty was only thing driving the party at present. “Naya (New) Pakistan” is not a distant dream now and a clear victory of PTI in LG elections is possible due to peoples trust on the party and its leadership. Responding to a query by the journalists, he said that misplaced forms XIV and XV was the biggest proof of rigging in General Elections 2013. How can an election be fair when the ECP does not have documents containing record of votes polled for and against any candidate, he questioned.

On this occasion, PTI Central Organizer Jahangir Tareen said that PMLN government and its ministers were telling the public blatant lies about rigging in general elections. Absence of forms XIV & XV, printing 105 percent more ballots for 71 constituencies of Punjab and two of KPK and 110 percent more ballots for seven constituencies of Lahore are facts enough to prove massive rigging in elections, he said. That is why Imran Khan quoted 71 punctures rather than 35 in this conference, he said adding that the report of Judicial Commission would expose PMLN and they will not be able to hide due to embarrassment. He also lamented the government for its inefficiency in solving the power crisis and instead building projects like Metro Bus.