As expected, there's a lot of hue and cry over this exercise. He embarked upon an adventure in which more cunning and experienced politicians have always been reluctant, nay refused, to embark. It has opened up a huge Pandora’s box and proved those of his followers right who wanted the party elections to follow, not precede, the general elections. Here is why:

It is alleged that Imran has a soft corner for Aleem Khan and Jehangir Tareen since they rush in with party funds as soon as they see those are needed. This is inevitable since in any form of democracy, from  the US to Pakistan, elections cannot be fought without money. This has been the bane of democracy where money can buy seats and the big business houses make more money by backing their horses with funds and receiving windfalls after their horse succeeds. Not for nothing that NS arrogantly taunted our Canadian Mullah that,”Pallay naeen taila tay kar di mela mela.”(She hasn’t a dime with her but is craving to go to the fair).

The worse battle ground was Lahore and I don’t say this metaphorically. Even PTI enthusiast column writers are claiming the elections were rigged and they back this with the opinion of hundreds of supporters whom they met or who came to them with their grievances. Just before the elections, Aleem Khan threw four grand dinners for the 1950 members who were supposed to vote. He allegedly distributed some party funds among them too,which apparently did the trick but it did not stop there. Aleem Khan filed an FIR against the contestant Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed’s brother Mian Mustafa Rasheed and six other supporters for theft. All of them are behind bars for the past six days, not because there's nobody to bail them out but the fact is that they wish to remain there in protest. They have resorted to even a hunger strike to get Imran Khan’s attention.

Even before these elections Imran Khan had stopped going to the Jail road office (Mehmood-ur-Rasheed’s party office, the base camp of PTI since 2007) and is now found at Mall road office (Aleem Khan’s domain) for party meetings. PML (N) is trying to get a hold of Mehmood-ur-Rasheed for a long time  but their efforts have multiplied after these unsavory happenings during the elections. They are offering him a ticket for NA126. PML (N), who gave Umar Sohail Zia Butt, Sharif family’s near blood relative, the ticket for this constituency in 2008 but are now apparently sick of him. He hasn’t installed a water tap in the last five years. His sole claim to the seat is the fun he provides the kids around where he lives,  who gather to see him fit himself into a small sports car every morning.

Imran’s decision to include losing candidates to the parliamentary board is also a good one. This might succeed in keeping the likes of Mehmood-ur-Rasheed to stick with the party, considering they will have their say in distributing tickets and his cadre won't be overlooked.

In the meanwhile, it has been alleged that Shah Mehmood Qureshi wants to contest the Punjab elections. The obvious motive behind this is that it would be easier to make and lead a forward group after elections if he gets to be the Punjab President now. Also because if he becomes the Punjab President, he would have clean bowled Javed Hashmi, because the party President is an honorary post with the Chairman having most of the power.  Still,  this guy has a role to play in policy making and is involved in deal making with other players.

PML(N) is topping all the graphs and charts these days. PPP has improved their figure somehow. PTI is sinking for the past year or so. Their last hope is the grand fair injection scheduled for 23rd March at the Pakistan monument in Lahore. This hoped for great party showing could be the make or break event for Imran Khan’s tsunami. He could pick the right momentum from there. If it is a small wave, everything he has so far done, alongwith this intra party election, would have been in vain and would mean another five years in the political wilderness.

The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.