Awarding tickets was 'great torture' for me, says Imran while electioneering in Islamabad

Published June 30, 2018
Imran Khan says he is never going through the "torture" again. —DawnNewsTV
Imran Khan says he is never going through the "torture" again. —DawnNewsTV

Imran Khan launched his election campaign for the NA-53 constituency in Islamabad on Saturday, pumped about how the party has "never been as well-prepared going into the election as this year".

"The first rule of engagement is: never underestimate your opponent," the 'captain' said, waxing philosophical all Sun Tzu-like.

It seems what he hadn't anticipated, however, was the trying nature of ticket distribution. The PTI chief launched into a tirade about what "torture" the exercise was, sharing how his wife Bushra Begum had "watched him grow old" the past three weeks.

Out of 4000 applications received, between 650 and 700 were green-lit for tickets, he announced.

The "biggest torture" however was apparently the distribution of tickets for reserved seats for women.

Among those vying, many were senior members and had experience dating back 20 years and thought they deserved the tickets. On the other hand there were those who served [the party] for the past 5-6 years. I will never forget what they did for the sit-in. There were those working at the grassroot-level. And then there were those who were barristers, whom we knew could represent us in the assembly, said Imran Khan describing the tough shots he had to call.

He said that the first order of business, after the party comes into power, will be to hold intra-party elections and only those women who come out on top will be given priority [for a reserved seat].

Imran Khan says he is never going through the "torture" again. —DawnNewsTV
Imran Khan says he is never going through the "torture" again. —DawnNewsTV

Even so, the party did manage to meet the 5 per cent legal requirement and awarded tickets to 14 women out of 244 candidates in the general seats.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.