EXCLUSIVE: Shireen Mazari in PTI – Press Statement

 

 18 March 2013

PRESS STATEMENT

Just as I had left PTI on 25^th September with a heavy heart so today I am rejoining the Party with a clear mind and a commitment to the vision of change for a Naya Pakistan that has gained a new momentum with the intra party elections. In my resignation letter I had raised a number of issues relating to the Party but somehow at the juncture the country is in right now, there is a greater task to be tackled – that is rescuing our beloved Pakistan from the looters and criminals in the garb of political leader. In this context, as I had stated to Khan in my resignation letter, I had never doubted his integrity or commitment, so it is this that has brought me back into the Party.

 

While everything may not be as one wishes it to be, the intra-party elections with all their glitches have provided for a culture of democracy within the Party which will improve with each election the Party goes through. What has been the most positive part of these elections has been the resurgence of the old ideological workers in the form of electoral success in most instances, albeit not all. But which other Party has moved even an iota towards having such extensive intra-party polls with all members voting. I still hope that eventually it will not be a pyramid voting structure but that all members will vote directly for their top tier leadership.

 

My misgiving that big money was taking over the party has been set aside in the wake of the intra party elections and the commitment of the youth and ideological workers of the Party. In fact, the youth and old ideological workers of the Party kept my faith going in PTI even while I was out of it. And today they are mainly responsible for my coming back to the Party. In retrospect I feel I should not have gone public with my misgivings and should have dealt with it within the party.

 

I did some harsh criticism of the Party but on policy issues and refrained from any personal abuse or criticism of Khan as his credentials were never in doubt. In that context, I stand by the position I had taken at the time on principles but I am glad on most counts the intra-party polls removed the misgivings/misperceptions. Also, despite my having left the Party I never sought to party hop simply because I did not see myself comfortable ideologically with any other political party. I had told Khan in my resignation letter that I would be there to serve the Party in any way because for me coming into electoral politics through PTI was simply to affect national agendas in a way that qualitatively changes Pakistan for the better. As the PTI leadership knows, I have continued to work with it on many issues even while remaining outside the Party. But it is time to be formally part of the PTI team again.

 

It is time to stand up and be counted. There is no room for any “me” or “I” if we are to collectively save our country. Faith in Khan’s commitment and integrity were always there but faith in one man is a starting point because the Party is defined by its collective leadership and the intra party elections plus the exit of many party hoppers has restored faith in the PTI’s collectivity for me.

 

The development of my neglected and underdeveloped area Rajanpur and its downtrodden people’s welfare, is very critical for me and I am hoping to bring Khan to the district to show people the difference between PTI and the traditional Tumandar-dominated political parties.

 

Things may never be perfect but we must unite to change the status quo and work towards constant improvement. So it is with a renewed dedication and commitment that I rejoin PTI.                                                                                             

 

Shireen M Mazari