A day before the National Assembly gathers to vote on Pakistan’s interim prime minister in the wake of Nawaz Sharif’s dismissal, Dawn.com readers are generously backing Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) nominee, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad.
Backed by the PTI as the 'deserving' candidate for the role, Rashid has been praised by Imran Khan for being a vociferous campaigner in the Panama Papers case who earned the PTI's nod of approval for his 'struggle'.
Why Sheikh Rashid?
Senior PTI leader Arif Alvi tells Dawn.com that the choice is a practical one. “He was one of the good petitioners who persisted with this cause [the Panama Papers case]," Alvi says.
“It makes sense because opposition parties will not support a PTI candidate so an independent candidate like Sheikh Rashid was a good choice for nomination,” he added.
PTI and Rashid
In the 2013 general election, Rashid’s party entered an electoral alliance with the PTI, with both pledging to support the other in the polls for Rawalpindi’s NA-55 and NA-56 seats.
Rashid secured victory in NA-55 and took oath as an MNA on June 1, 2013. Since then, he has been seen sharing the platform with the PTI during campaigns to put pressure on Nawaz Sharif to resign over allegations of corruption.
PTI leader Imran Ismail, too, says Rashid is an obvious choice as he can muster more support from opposition parties.
“He’s a nice guy and since we have been working for a long time with Sheikh Rashid we don’t feel like he isn’t part of PTI,” Ismail adds.
“Hes always with us on all issues or platforms and is part and parcel of PTI. One can get along with him and he really understands grassroots politics.”
He adds with a laugh, “I’m also learning from him how to smoke a good cigar.”