general rule in cricket is not to change a winning combination. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, the party that led by cricketer turned politician Imran Khan, polled the largest number of votes in 2018, appears to be paying homage to the same. Prematurely out of power, at odds with the establishment, accused of attacking state institutions and at one stage denied the permission to field candidates as a party registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan, the PTI is promising the electorate essentially what it did in 2018.

Interestingly, Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party and PTI-Parliamentarian, led by Khan’s erstwhile lieutenants Jehangir Khan Tareen and Pervez Khattak, are also persisting with the same ideas.

The PTI was expected to unveil a detailed formal manifesto on Sunday. Some of its leaders said it would focus on revival of the national economy, rule of law, improving the provision of health and education, and development.

The IPP and the PTI-P have been content so far with verbal references to their manifesto in pressers and speeches without issuing a formal document. Both these parties now claim to represent the ‘real PTI.’ However, their websites are quiet regarding the manifesto. There is a general perception that the two represent breakaway factions of the PTI and that their appeal is limited to separate regions. While the IPP is more visible in the Punjab, the PTI-P is essentially based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

A few days ago, the IPP leadersannounced a rather ambitious manifesto at a public gathering in Lodhran, the hometown of the party chairman. For his part, the PTI-P chief, a former chief minister of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, last week, announced a 27-point manifesto, consisting mostly of the PTI manifesto from the 2018 campaign.

Among other things, IPP leaders Abdul Aleem Khan and Jehangir Khan Tareen said they would provide free electricity for tube-wells to irrigate farm lands and to lifeline users (consuming up to 300 units a month).They also promised to raise the minimum wage for unskilled labour to Rs50,000. They said petrol prices charged from motorcyclists will be slashed and residential apartments will be provided for the urban poor. Their rural counterparts will get three-marla plots to build houses.

“Manifestos have become largely irrelevant to the outcome of general elections in Pakistan,” says Muddassir Rizvi of Free and Fair Election Network, an independent organisation working for political and democratic rights.

The key points in the IPP manifesto are the provision of free electricity to small land holding farmers (having up to 12 acres of land) or less, the establishment of medical dispensaries, the installation of water filtration plants in each union council and ownership rights for residents of squatter settlements (katchi abadis).

The manifesto emphasises the significance of the youth, rural development and advancement of agriculture and industry. The party leaders say they will also focus on providing equitable infrastructure in rural areas. The party aims to empowerwomen and the youth, creating employment opportunities and offering interest-free loans to aspiring young entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, Pervez Khattak, the first PTI chief minister of the KP, claimed credit for the Peshawar bus rapid transit project, improvement of infrastructure to boost tourism, expansion of the Benazir Income Support Programme, Sehat Card and the billion tree tsunami. He also promised further improvements in education, healthcare, tourism and industrial growth. He said the police would be made independent. Every union council will see development. There will be more sports grounds and more funds to empower women and the youth.

“Manifestos have become largely irrelevant to the outcome of general elections in Pakistan,” says Muddassir Rizvi of Fee and Fair Election Network, an independent organisation working for political and democratic rights. He adds, “The political parties mostly target the poor in these statements. That is why the manifestoes are ambitious and idealistic. They seldom acknowledge the ground realities.” There is no accountability and the parties do not behave responsibly, he says.

The writer can be reached at vaqargillani@gmail.com