On Monday, senior politician Javed Hashmi made a significant announcement, revealing his withdrawal from the election race and pledging support for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Aamir Dogar in the upcoming polls on February 8 for the NA-149 constituency.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Hashmi, a seasoned politician with a history in both PTI and its rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), expressed his endorsement for Tehreek-e-Insaf, led by Imran Khan, and stated his decision to withdraw from the elections.
Initially planning to contest as an independent candidate from Multan’s constituency, Hashmi’s withdrawal could potentially aid PTI, especially as their candidates are now using various symbols after losing their iconic ‘bat’ symbol.
Hashmi had previously won twice from NA-149, first in 2008 on PML-N’s ticket and later in 2013 on PTI’s ticket. However, after leaving PTI, he vacated the seat, and in a 2014 by-election, Aamir Dogar defeated him. In 2018, Hashmi chose not to participate in the elections.
Despite his close ties with PML-N, Hashmi declared his solidarity with PTI founder Imran Khan during what he referred to as challenging times for Khan and his party. He acknowledged his past support for Nawaz Sharif when Imran Khan was in a favorable position.
Regarding the ongoing cipher case against top PTI leaders Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Hashmi dismissed the charges as baseless. He vouched for Qureshi’s integrity, stating, “I know Shah Mahmood Qureshi; he’s not a traitor.” Both Khan and Qureshi are currently in custody, facing allegations of using a secret document for political gains.
Hashmi further criticized Nawaz Sharif for making compromises to attain power and expressed his lamentation over the prevailing “might is right” dynamic in Pakistan. Despite the setbacks faced by PTI, including Khan’s imprisonment and the loss of their electoral symbol, the party remains committed to participating in the elections without boycotting, albeit with different symbols for each candidate.
