Confusion within PTI ranks over '35 punctures' allegation
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A day after Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan termed the allegation of '35 punctures' as just political talk, confusion has arisen within party ranks.
Senior leader Dr Arif Alvi says it is time to apologise for the allegation while another PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen has said there were in fact 71 punctures and not just 35.
Responding to a question about why the matter of 35 punctures was not raised before the judicial commission probing poll rigging allegations during the 2013 General Elections, PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday told Geo television's anchorperson Hamid Mir that the issue of 35 punctures was just "political talk".
Read: The story Of ‘35 punctures’
He said the information had indirectly reached the members of his party after passing through several channels of sources.
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After the party chairman's interview, PTI leader Naeemul Haque had tweeted: "Of course the 35 puncture story was political but also correct. Let Najam Sethi, Murtaza Poya,Dr Ijaz and US Ambassador come on TV on this."
On the other hand, PTI's senior leader Dr Arif Alvi came out with a different opinion on the matter.
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Dr Alvi said it was "time to apologise for 35 punctures. Many rumours regarding source of information and content were afloat and I believed some of them."
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| Alvi and Naeem's difference of opinion. |
"Naeem-ul-Haque believes the 35 puncture story is correct and he has some source of direct information which I don't," Dr Arif Alvi further said in a tweet.
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When an observer asked Dr Alvi and Naeemul Haque to pick up the phone and sort their versions out, Dr Alvi tweeted saying: "Actually we picked up the phone and talked about it. Mr @naeemul_haque has the info but I don't."
Jahangir Tareen rejected Dr Alvi's apology remarks, saying they might have been his (Dr Alvi's) own point of view. Speaking to journalists after attending a session of the judicial commission, he said the party would not apologise and added that there were 71 punctures and not just 35.
The issue of '35 punctures' came to light in Feb 2014 after a PTI leader tweeted on the matter, followed by others.
The tweets alleged that on the night of May 13, 2013, Najam Sethi had called Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) party chief (and the current prime minister) Nawaz Sharif and had assured him that the “35 punctures” had been fixed.
PTI leaders had at the time said that the information had come from an envoy associated with the US government.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (60) Closed
Jul 02, 2015 03:47pm
Nothing wrong in being gracious and apologising if it was just a "political talk".
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Jul 02, 2015 03:47pm
Dr Alvi stance is principled while Mr Tareen proves he is undemocratic businessman.
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Jul 02, 2015 03:50pm
After reading this atricle my head is spinning ......
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Jul 02, 2015 03:53pm
they're good for nothing..
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Jul 02, 2015 03:57pm
Just political talk ...? Really, then you are just another political party..nothing more.
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Jul 02, 2015 03:57pm
So he has got the guts to ask apology.
While others don't have courage and moral strength to accept their follies.
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Jul 02, 2015 03:58pm
Why do they (PTI Leaders) take on twitter? Why dont they communicate such things implicitly to Part Leadership?
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Jul 02, 2015 04:03pm
Now the truth came out from the mouth of Mr. Imran Khan. All rigging allegation are baseless and time will tell that Mr. IK was telling lie to the whole nation. He should leave politics now and apologise from the nation.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:04pm
Whole Election Tube was Puncture everyone know it. But the question is how? It is task of Judicial Commission to probe as all agencies are under their prosecution.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:05pm
YOUR COMMENT
PTI WASTING TIME & BEFOOLING PEPOLE
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Jul 02, 2015 04:08pm
PTI is a confused party of a confused leader.
Not too long ago, he is the same leader who once demanded that TTP be allowed to open office in this country. I couldn't believe my eyes when I read this news in DAWN. That was the day I realized that this country is wasting its time by pinning hope on a so-called leader that is totally bereft of foresightedness and statesmanship.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:08pm
its not just political talk , some thing is wrong some where....... truth will come out later.....
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Jul 02, 2015 04:12pm
U- Turn yet again PTI has disappointed big time!
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Jul 02, 2015 04:13pm
The issue of fraudulent elections of 2013 has to be seen in total. Let the Judicial commission do its job. It was PTI's discretion to bring to the JC whatever evidence it deemed fit. 35 punctures story did not fit that bill.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:13pm
Dr. Alvi's and Jahangir Tareen's backgrounds can easily explain their divergent opinions on this issue. Dr. Alvi is a political worker - has only worked for one party since 1996 (when it was nothing) and has not compromised on democratic principles. Jahangir Tareen started off with PML-N, joined the newly formed Lota League (PMLQ) after NS was overthrown without any remorse and jumped PML Q as well after the 2008 election disaster for PML-F. In 2013 he ditched PML-F as well in favor of 'upcoming' PTI. Apparently he is also bankrolling the PTI's agitation (as well as IK's transportation in his personal heli) with an aim to create a situation thru which PTI can get entry into corridors of powers thru backdoor.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:14pm
@funnyLand - You mean political parties should not do politics? Don't confuse it with policies and reforms.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:16pm
The truth prevailed. You apologize or not it will not make any difference because your falsehood and ill intention stand fully exposed and your credibility lost.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:17pm
The nation owe so many apologies from PTI,,,,
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Jul 02, 2015 04:20pm
Jehangir Tareen is not a leader but an invester. PTI runs through his treasure chest. Its time Najm Sethi took him to court.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:24pm
Petty politics. This is what we are in for if- if PTI comes in power, Politics of disinformation.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:26pm
Salute Dr Alvi, hope other team members will follow. This will be real beginning of Naya Pakistan Politics!!
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Jul 02, 2015 04:34pm
I am PTI supporter but I really am amazed the political tactics used by IK, I don't what was he thinking when he said that. Total disappointment till now!
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Jul 02, 2015 04:35pm
Shameful Behaviour of Lying Continously.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:39pm
Long time ago there was a party , called PTI. Leaders of that party were naïve and not very good public speaking capabilities but STILL people loved them because they were honest. Now the same party, very competent public speaker but people lost their faith in them because those leaders are not anymore honest. They look greedy and hungry for power.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:44pm
Then what is the different between IK and other political leaders?
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Jul 02, 2015 04:48pm
Very soon Imran khan will term his slogan Naya Pakistan as it was just a political talk.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:57pm
punctures or no punctures - 35 seats has more rejected votes than the margin of victory! not a con incidence!
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Jul 02, 2015 05:04pm
actors at their best
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Jul 02, 2015 05:18pm
what a confused party,i mean the fan club.
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Jul 02, 2015 05:21pm
PTI is a shameless party. If it's chairman could not apologies for producing illegal children how he can apologies for his lies and wasting time of the whole nation.
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Jul 02, 2015 05:28pm
A confused Party with an even more confused leader .
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Jul 02, 2015 05:41pm
IK mislead the whole nation just for 'political talk' and for power greed. IK should come on TV and apologize not only to Mr.Sethi but to the citizen of Pakistan. I wonder how many time he will gonna apologize as he lied countless time during dahrna.
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Jul 02, 2015 05:43pm
PTI do not hoodwink the voters, there is no difference between PTI and others, same stuff with different brand names
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Jul 02, 2015 05:46pm
I wonder if Jehangir tareen can name those 35 seats aside from the one he couldn't win let alone those 71.
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Jul 02, 2015 05:49pm
That is the character of our political leaders.
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Jul 02, 2015 05:51pm
Seeing no way to prove the allegation, IK terms it a political statement. This means all political statements are false.
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Jul 02, 2015 05:51pm
So the rigging allegations were rigged too...
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Jul 02, 2015 05:52pm
There has to be a limit to the "false blame game" to mislead public.
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Jul 02, 2015 06:05pm
This kind of behaviour and flip-flop is leading the country to political darkness.
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Jul 02, 2015 06:18pm
Najam Sehti openly accepted the power was with N-League on TV and this news item is still stuck on that 35 statement.
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Jul 02, 2015 06:25pm
Very typical of PTI which appears perpetually confused on every issue.
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Jul 02, 2015 06:27pm
Mr. IK with your just "Political Talk" destroy somebody reputation. In other word you are liable for character assassination & slandring. It is your luck that you are in Pakistan not in USA otherwise by now you might be homeless after paying mighty fine.
IK is only big spin head like Kejriwal of India. Everybody is corrupt except themselves or their party member.
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Jul 02, 2015 06:36pm
What is a political talk? Mr Khan can you explain it.
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Jul 02, 2015 06:57pm
@Dawn Addicted you are right. I was also shocked to read this news. We were thinking that he will act different and will play a positive/clean politics. Now we could understand that he is same politician like others. Just you listen the election days speeches of NS SS and AZ then you will realize that now IK doing the same thing
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Jul 02, 2015 07:17pm
so all your post 2013 elections efforts and allegation are just a political talk..strange.Every passing day decreases the credibility and respect of this so called leader..
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Jul 02, 2015 07:29pm
Perhaps time is not right for PTI or IK to apologize. The JC will announce the decision in 2 weeks or so. Whatever the decision it will not endorse the PTI's contention of systemic rigging. Let us wait till then when PTI will be gracious to apologize for it's attempts for misleading the nation with twisted facts, harming economy through dharna, harming the democracy by attacking the parliament, maligning former Judges, sethi and EC and so many. Time is coming for IK to say good bye.
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Jul 02, 2015 07:53pm
This is what democracy is.Everybody has the right to give his opinion.Difference of opinion is an encouraging sign.Keep it up PTI.
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Jul 02, 2015 07:53pm
Ask Dr. Shahid Masood. He was the one who broke this story and he in his program has said that he is willing to share the details and they happened. I don't know why PTI make every thing a question of ego.
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Jul 02, 2015 08:04pm
The only punctures were in Imran Khan's credibility.
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Jul 02, 2015 08:10pm
@Azharmalik opinin!!!! There is a great difference between allegation and opinion.
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Jul 02, 2015 08:11pm
@Cyrus Very true.
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Jul 02, 2015 08:33pm
Mr IK should speak the truth for the nation. It is very disappointing. Now he has to apologise for this political lie.
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Jul 02, 2015 08:37pm
35 punctures, just a political talk or lie and IK you are master of lies. watching the dump of arms and ammunition on TV and TTP well planned hideouts and going back to IK statements about TTP,I wonder what would have happened to the country if PTI was in power.
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Jul 02, 2015 08:48pm
forget about the 35 punctures when the wole tube itself is in tatters
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Jul 02, 2015 08:55pm
Imran Khan has learned politics,and accordingly speaking these days.
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Jul 02, 2015 09:56pm
that means all of your "political talk" is just .....
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Jul 03, 2015 01:11am
Another U turn by the U turn masters IK and PTI. People don't take PTI seriously anymore. There are genuine reasons why thousands of people are moving away from PTI.
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Jul 03, 2015 01:49am
It takes lots of courage and guts to admit when you are wrong. This is the character of only a great man. The fiasco of "thernism" that wasted hundreds of thousands of man-hour time hurting the economy, billions of rupees down the drain, did not help Mr. Imran Khan to establish him as a credible leader. I guess his hope was hinging on the "Umpire's finger" that to Mr. Khan disappointment, did not appear.
There was no need for such a waste of time and money. If he thinks that he has succeeded in highlighting the electoral voting system, he could have accomplish this while sitting in the house. But that requires respect of the constitution and law. It looks like some of us still want to have things our way regardless what the law of the land says.
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Jul 03, 2015 02:42am
this is Arif Alvi's personal opinion, not his party's stance to apologize. its not PTI but this media is confused within their own ranks.
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Jul 03, 2015 05:39am
Watch conversation of Samson Simon main source of information about 35 punctures with Zarar Khuhro in Zara Hut Kai on Dawn News July 1... He said that no one from top leadership of PTI including IK bothered to ask me about it... He admitted that it was just hearsay and in his opinion no proof be it audio or video existed... He seemed very apologetic .... Must watch... It'll give u a true picture of what exactly had happened..
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