In countries like United States, businesses and generally corporate sector supporting political campaigns through donations is in practice for long. However, at times questions are raised when these corporations start influencing in policy making for the their respective sectors/domains.
To prevent this situation many countries have legislated terms for political financing to make sure that businesses are not benefited above the law and in any form in return of the funds they give to political parties.
In Pakistan, no such known phenomenon exists. Political parties can’t get direct, indirect, public or any other type of funds from businesses for their election campaigns. In fact Election Commission of Pakistan has this rule clearly mentioned on its website, it says:
Any contribution made, directly or indirectly, by any foreign government, multi-national or domestically incorporated public or private company, firm, trade or professional association shall be prohibited and the parties may accept contributions and donations only from individuals.
Recently, Telenor’s marketing campaigns seem aligned with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, through their Khamoshi ka Boycott, Rockstar song “Saada Haq Ithay Rakh” and other similar activates that somehow give the impression that company is quietly but officially supporting a certain political party, i.e. PTI.
For instance check this status update on Talkshawk’s Facebook Page:
It won’t be out of place to mention here that Shehzad Roy, Telenor’s brand ambassador was seen performing Djuice youth anthem (Kiya Darta Hay) at PTI’s Lahore Jalsa. Aamir Ibrahim, CMO at Telenor told me that company does not control anyone else’s political affiliations; he said that this company policy applies to employees, partners and brand ambassadors alike. But people are for sure linking Telenor with PTI through Shehzad Roy’s performance at PTI’s Jalsa.
Then hefty advertisement campaign (valuing millions of rupees) for promoting just a CRBT of “Rockstar” (Saada Haq, Ithay Rakh) adds more questions to Telenor’s policy of not maintaining any revolutionary thoughts.
This is not the first time we are pointing out Telenor’s political involvement, in fact, ApnaTime did a story six months back raising questions over it’s Khamoshi ka Boycott campaign.
I know all this is too vague, and one could give Telenor the benefit of the doubt that it is just promoting its products with a tagline which is somehow, maybe co-incidentally, aligned with PTI but let’s have a look at a tweet going out from Official Djuice Twitter account (which was later deleted by the company) that reveals the clear picture of Telenor’s intents:
I leave this up to you to decide on the direction of Telenor’s marketing and digital campaigns.
You can also share your thoughts on whether corporate sector involvement in political campaigns is something that should happen or not and the way corporations can possibly influence political decisions based on such support.
We also need to see how political involvement can backfire on organization under the head of political victimizations, especially in countries like Pakistan.
Just to mention again business are prohibited to support political parties as per Pakistani laws, at least as of now.
Update:
Zahid Khan, ANP Leader from KPK has revealed in a talk show that a telecom operator had bought 7 hours of air time from all news channels on December 25th and had in fact sponsored this Jalsa. Mr. Zahid didn’t reveal the operator name but his revelation is astonishing. Watch yourself below video (check video at 7:10 onwards).
this a called revolution… they have courage show there support… you know almost every pakistani is supporting PTI… you never know how these biggies are also pissed off with zardari gorup…
dont forget to mention we are still waiting for 3G while world is even going beyond 4g to LTE.
I Support the Telenor Support for PTI.
If its against law… sorry what PPP is way worst
Yeh you are right “almost every Pakistanti” is supporting PTI, but guess what? i belong to the rest of Pakistani population (almost 99% population) who are not supporting Pakistan Tehreek Loota formerly know as Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf. :P
Good thing you are supporting Zardari. :)
If I am not supporting PTI it doesn’t means i am supporting Zardari, Now you would say i am supporting Nawaz Shareef. Well my suggestion to all PTI lovers, If you believe PTI can change future of Pakistan with all those “OLD FACES” then do something positive to help it rather than bashing those who are against you.
Well PTI is the way forward for Pakistan and only option left for people of Pakistan. Unfortunately we don’t have many choices for the future of Pakistan. Yeah some “old” faces might be joining PTI but you have to look at those new faces too like Abrar ul Haq or Waleed Iqbal who have joined PTI realizing that Imran is the only leader who can take Pakistan out of the mess it is in right now. Try to support and vote for PTI this time, bring them into power and if they fail criticize them as much as you want. For now your criticism isn’t going to help Pakistan for sure.
Imran isn’t a Superman – nobody is, He has to rely on all those old faces – those who looted this country for decades and now going to do it again, Imran is just their cover. Do you really think that even if he get 100 seats he can make a Government? He had to either make a deal with Zardari or Nawaz Shareef (Assuming he already made a deal with MQM). That means sharing of Power no central Authority No progress another Machli Mandi.
Its better to criticize now rather than criticizing after they fail you.
Spot on @Muhammad Zohair Chohan
I have been banging my head on same tree lately ..
I can’t trust a hypocrite person like him .. he is in Lahore and challenges PML-N (which is great) and when he is in Karachi there isn’t any single word against MQM .. whom he is criticizing earlier for years ..
where is 12th May now ? where is all the target killing and gang mafia he used to claim ?
nazaw sharif passed tree days in karachi & again he is in karachi Y isn’t any single word against MQM whom he is criticizing earlier for years ..
Right now he is siting in karachi & challeging imran Khan
Well OK then what solution do you have for the problems faced by Pakistan other than criticizing?(Assuming you have some solution for the country of 180 million people). And he didn’t made any deal with MQM. MQM was forced to remain peaceful because of the overwhelming popularity of PTI.
agreed +1
Solution please !! Don’t tell Us all this ______
We already fed up from all this …if you have any ?
[Comment Edited : Please respect other’s viewpoint]
The solution is PTI….whats your solution,pmln?ppp?pmlq?army?…..aint they already tested?…why not give a chance to a new leader?
Aswad the solution is simple. Use your right of vote wisely. Imran is new, but the other party members are not. Those who aren’t loyal to their original parties how could they be loyal to PTI or its agenda? is there any guarantee? or we going to be doomed for another 5 years?
Well still you haven’t tell us the solution for the problems faced by the state of Pakistan. Till now it’s skepticism and criticism which obviously is of no use to this country. Can you tell us if I want to vote then which party or political party I shall vote. I am 100% sure that if I am supposed to vote “wisely” then I should PTI since it is Imran and his political party who has covered the distance from Tanga party to become one of the biggest party of Pakistan. In the same manner I am sure they can make Pakistan from nothing to everything.
— Well still you haven’t tell us the solution for the problems faced by the state of Pakistan.
Someone who points to what he thinks are bad solutions (PTI) to country’s problems doesn’t necessarily have to know the good solutions. And no, an untested new solution is not necessarily a good one.
— In the same manner I am sure they can make Pakistan from nothing to everything.
Lots of people (youths too) put hopes in Obama, and he bretrayed them. Don’t be so sure PTI is the right answer, we’ll see after elections.
(I missed voter registration deadline, so I cannot make a decision either way)
bro now we are at stage where we need to change leader face coz ye poraney faces apni parties se bhahir hain but parties still have same image koi change nahi aya in ke nikal janey se its mean problem leader main hai so ab leader face change kar ke dekhna hai ham awam ko agar aap troubleshooting ka rule samajtey ho to aaap ke liye asani ho gi samajney main ke fault detect karney ke liye different test kiye jate hain same test se result change nahi hota aam faces ko test kar chukey both parties main ab leader face change karna hai.
I am PRO PTI , I was taking to MR.Chohan…
and yes there is a gaurantee in the same way as i can gaurante that we will be doomed for the rest of our life if the same PPP,PMLN,MQM etc Remain in Power!!
So I can count and rely on the latter one..Being Wise as you advising Us to be.
i agree with you bro
I did this against law…sorry but Mr. Hammad also did this so no sorry…well good point.
If every Pakistani is supporting Imran Khan then I am not a Pakistani as per your saying. All tugs and corrupt people are now joining PTI, be it Shah Mahmood, Asif Ahmed Ali, Malik Naveed & others. Imran Khan in his own definition has brought a filter in party to clean these people, but if this filter is so strong then he should use it for all politicians and nation immediately. But Allah gave no such filter to a human being. In Karachi Jalsa he failed to give a road map, same old speech that nation is listening to from last 65 years.
He will simply divide votes, and PPP will rule again. Thank you Imran Khan, people will realize this once election results will be announced.
*If its against law… sorry what PPP is DOING is way worst and they are not even following law…
sorry to say, but that’s the pathetic thing we Pakistani use for our defend,
One Wrong thing cannot justify other wrong thing.
dear i have given my last vote to PML-N both for MNA and MPA.. but where is there policies.where are there promises??If PML-N is that much good and want to save pakistan then y it is not resigning from NA and PA.every day pakistan is getting sick and the leeches like zerdari are sucking its blood.. I m now supporting PTI.the all old faces that hav come will b in the lead of Imran Khan that matters a lot.no one in pakistan can blame him for curruption,dont go for his opposit parties views just used to read articles from senior journalists,
In your last post you accepted this is against law, but now you are saying “if its against law…” ..what is your stand actually?
Did I just read a whole post based upon rumours or gossip ? :O
maybe there’s lot of PTI supporter in Telenor, but I don’t think, Telenor officially support the PTI !
I didn’t believe this too, until i saw their official tweet on this
Wait A SEC!! Ohh Common Yar !! Don’t tell me that this Whole Article was just due to That Tweet??
Unbelievable !!
They Talked about unity and not loosing hope!! and you accused them to Fund PTI despite the Election Commission Rules etc…
So irresponsible !! May be you could have talked to some official before writing such thing?
Now i am thinking what if they Lawyered Up Against ProPakistani in Return ?? Can they do it?
And CAN YOU AFFORD IT ???
Come on why would they? its a free country. Anybody can express his opinion about anybody or any issue. You are saying that Mr. Nawaz should file a complaint in Court because Mr. Imran speaks against him or vice versa? You seriously need a break. Stop criticizing others make your self better so no one can criticize. Enough said.
Let the man answer first, MR.Zohair,
and stop advocating every 1…Give yourself a break and let us discuss this in peace !!
@Admin I want to know because You are very Pro Cyber Law and if such law would have been in place ,can i just openly accuse any one without any solid evidence ?? Can freedom of speech covers this thing?? I am a Blogger too so lets sort this for all !! Hope you are getting my point unlike SOME PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO USE FANCY WORDS AROUND.:D
Well M.Aswad, if you want to discuss something in private with someone use the Email option don’t make it public. Anyway if you have read the article it only provides some facts and let “you” make the decision. So if you are “discussing” it that means you think that Telenor is supporting PTI – that’s why you are trying to justify it and BTW there is no law that prohibits any Pakistani to share his/her thoughts, you call it “accusing“, that’s what you think, so no one can file a case against you.
Good work from Telenor. They know future of Pakistan belongs to PTI and hence they support the future govt of Pakistan. In case if this report is true. :)
Telenor group will be restless if its true. those who ran these campaigns will be questioned
There should be one thing simply whenever a multi-national supports such rhetoric ..it should be clear if the cause is supported by some political affiliation.. No cheating allowed…. Anyways if there is a law against it surely they could be challanged in courts KYUN K ADLIA TU AZAD HY :)
I think the you have completely overlooked the fact that Telenor just like any other organization is looking after its own interest. The Khamoshi ka Boycott was started back in Jan/Feb if I remember correctly when PTI was still pretty much a one man show. Telenor continues to push their Youth Enabling branding agenda and brought on Shehzad Roy and the new youth anthem.
PTI was only able to mobilize the youth as late as october this year when the Telenor campaign was already in full swing. So now they are just trying to cash in on the masses joining PTI.
I would call it good corporate starategy!!
It is hard to believe that policies from companies/political parties are made or implemented in days. they can take months even years.
well khmoshi ka boycott was launched when PTI was not on its peak. I remember its first promo when a common man decides to reconstruct a road. Because he wanted a change for the welfare of people. It is a good step. Now if PTI has a similar stance, we should not criticise on it. Telenor would b proud to find a political party working on a similar stance of khamoshi ka boycott and thats the reason supporting it.
Second, everybody knows in Pakistan candidate based election works. If PTI brings new faces, nobody will vote for them. Also heavy weights coming to PTI is weakening the others which is the most important!!!
Yea that is why thugs like Asif Ahmed, Shah Mahmood, Malik Naveed and others are welcomed in party…
Remember role of Asif Ahmed Ali recently in fake degrees case ?
Remember silence of Shah Mahmood in Raymond Davis case ? Remember corruption and NAB cases of Malik Naveed ? I don’t know what filter Imran Khan has which he is claiming that cleans these old men’s character immediately.
Djuice is a youth brand and when all the youth is so much with PTI, of course they will follow the suit :))
And no worries, they aren’t supporting some odd party, they are supporting a party which is our last hope :)
PTI Zindabad
IMO, Imran is an honest & straight forward, that’s y military establishment has chosen him as it is very easy to manipulate him & device policies according to their will. Establishment know that people hate their direct influence in policy making so they have chosen a puppet for themselves to maintain their influence. He partnered Jamat-e-Islami & started talking like Taliban, he allied with PML-N & sounded like Nawaz shareef. He thoroughly abused Armymen at that time….. now he is partnered with fauj & hence speak their language & words… Does not have his own mind at all…. A good leader but not a visionary intellect.
Multinet provided 8 MB Link for 7 hours Streaming for FREE ! So you can’t count the supporting ways.
is there any problem if Telenor supports PTI????
Have seen New Campaign of CRBT Promoting Don 2 Ringtones….Now based on ur analysis should we assume that Telenor is promoting underworld!!!!!
I am curious to know how Mr. Chohan has come up with scientific figure of “almost 99% population” not supporting PTI?
With the same super power of a statistician, can you please tell us who these 99% are supporting then?
I was about to ask the same question. Lol.
People like you are living in a “Matrix” you need to wake up to see the real world. Those few people appearing at Jalsaz or seen bashing/abusing opponents on Social Media doesn’t represent the whole Pakistan. I hope you got the point Mr. 99% Copper.
To be fair it looks you are bashing every 1 around , even some 1 talk politely !!
looks like you are Mr 1% here!!!Be calm .
Well truth always hurts. Sorry if you felt it a little harder, and yeh you are right, the real voice of Pakistani People has only 1% media coverage. BTW did i just punched you? i am calm as a sea :D
Why are you ashamed to tell us who represents this “real voice”? Zardari? Nawaz Sharif? Asfand Yar? Munawwer Hasan?
So those at least 200000+ people in Lahore and 300000+ people in Karachi and thousands and thousands other who didn’t attend the jalsa but support PTI are “few people” for you. Great definition of the “99%” Mr Statistician but that looks flawed. Sorry.
every one knows, who supported PTI in Karachi, and how many were there.
and besides there is already a debate with in PTI about the currupt being inducted, so good luck with the change, and good luck with the 200000+ numbers.
I was expecting more reasonable reply, instead of this filmy answer. I was wrong, u don’t have an iota of how to read data. For your naive brain, please checkout latest surveys from reputed organisations (YouGov, Gallup)
@Wimax User Yeh, those are big numbers, but when we compare them to the total population these numbers are nothing, & i can bet that most of these + people are not registered voters.
@Copper These organizations collect data from a limited number of people so that doesn’t represent each and every pakistani. The real test is Elections so wait and see and again i have to mention that actually voters count not the jalsa attenders.
I think its about time Pro Pak got a like button on the articles and the comments section just to mix it up!! Hope Aamir Atta is taking notice!!
I think its very simply
PTI target market is young people (youth movement, students) who are new voters and have a longer lifetime to vote for PTI.
Telenor has the same target market. Khamooshi ka boycott is targetted to the same population of school/college going kids who love to talk endlessly to their new found girlfriends or boyfriends on the phone.
yeah Telenor talkshawk sexy advertisings are also youth target.
Companies must not involve into politics. All customers are not of PTI
BTW international USA media and multinational companies like Telenor supporting PTI something is fishy.
lolz kal ko kainegey customers ko bi parties ko support nahi karna hai aur phir all companies ke employes ko bi support nahi karna to vote farishey aa kar dalainge mulk ko awam ne hi bachana hai aur awam isi mulk ki hi rehney wali hai now we need new leader face
Its not about that PTI is gathering lotaz to their party, its all about leadership that how he handles the lotaz, Muhammed Amir and Asif is the live examples, they where doing great with sincere leaders but once they get a corrupt leader like Salman Butt which made them to become corrupt. Think about it :)
PTI backed by MQM can bring the revolution as both have the same focus on middle class. However, MQM has to make its face friendly nationwide. My opinion and i am a karachiite supporting PTI for PM & MQM (i have seen them delivering in the city).
Agreed! MQM could have done the same what PTI is doing now..
I support PTI for pakistan & MQM for karachi :)
Lol. Great story. Interesting fact, the Vice President of HR at Telenor is a CARD HOLDING MEMBER OF THE PTI. Not to say individuals within companies should not have political affiliations but the VP HR at organizations is a strong post, especially for political purposes (its a numbers game). VP HR at Tele is well known within his team for being an ardent supporter of the party and in fact has been using the company’s resources and contacts (case in point, Shehzad Roy) to further his political aspirations . I personally think it is outrageous. While companies can not and should not force an apolitical environment at the workplace, it is also impractical and highly dangerous to allow persons of authority to take advantage of their position is such a manner. Isn’t that what’s wrong with this country in the first place? I wouldn’t call this official support, but its pretty darn close.
Well it surely is hard to comment on this topic, according to my point of view every single individual with in Pakistan is supporting PTI on the best levels as they can. We have had enough of corruption with in past 65 years now we want an accountability…..
Dear Aamir,
I am not going to defend Telenor’s support for PTI in my comment; but would like to advice you that it’s high time for you to start a political blog as well.
This post from _all_ aspects is 100% a political post; and please don’t give an excuse like “you have added this post because it’s something related to a Telco”. I know it will send some good traffic to your blog as PTI is the most discussed buzz word in social media these days, but such posts definitely put a question mark on quality and content of your blog. Me and other people visit this blog to read tech related news/posts.
Please make another blog for such stuff and I promise i will be a regular visitor of your political blog and will take part in discussions as much as i can.
Thanks and best regards,
-mustafa
Mustafa that’s a very nice suggestion. Political blog by propakistani in this atmosphere would be a 100% success. But i guess with reading all those tech articles daily on this blog agar kuch different taste hojaye tu its good :D
+1
Aamir Atta aisi cheezain nahi perhta :)
+1. AGREE WITH MUSTAFA, u guys have a nice blog. one of biggies in tech field of pakistan. really helpful for many common visitors .. including me. but i m saying it honestly.. that u guys are spoiling it by doing political articles. Mustafa is spot on that PTI, IK are good wrt to SEO… but dont neglect the fact that u are leaving LOTS of ur visitors in bad taste by posting political articles. make a separate one if u really cant resist this urge of going political in u. just my 2cents. good luck.
It’s just an opportunity that telenor is availing having Shahzad Roy as their brand ambassador and a PTI supporter.
اسے انگریزی میں چڑھتے سورج کو سلام کرنا کہتے ہیں
well i dont see anything wrong with it. there are bigger problems to discuss and solve. even if its not a coincidence i give a damn to it.
I think there is not a such big issue,Shahzad Roy is working for Telenor and also he supports Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Interesting News
ISI is funding Telenor ;-)
ProPakistani, you seem to be obsessed with IK and PTI. or may be majority of you are PRO-PMLN. if Telenor is shit, then you are in deeper shit. truth hurts. so appologiez to MR. atta and chohan sahab in advance.
They are just exploiting the youth to make more profits … perfectly legitimate :) all the other status quo parties are afraid of PTI so they are doing such propaganda :)
Imran Khan – a steadfast bulwark for great interests to rest upon. he is of the material from which nature hews her heroes, her law givers and her conquerers.
Actually the situation is that when someone try to say something true or positive, it goes for the benefit of PTI as PTI is focusing on the core and real issues of our country.
nazaw sharif passed tree days in karachi & again he is in karachi Y isn’t any single word against MQM whom he is criticizing earlier for years ..
Right now he is siting in karachi & challeging imran Khan
Zahid Khan’s allegations seem to be baseless as it is impossible for anyone to buy seven hours of airtime from ALL private media channels. The truth which is hard for these parties to swallow is that people want to see PTI rallies and for the channels it is now an issue of ratings.
we love imran khan . . . imran khan zindabad . presumptions never metters all hypocrates want status quo we need fresh air we will inshAllaha do it for our country the country which belongs to me
PTI zindabad.me bhi 1% me se hon as per chohan sahib:)
Hi all,
Being a Pro Pakistani & an Insafiyan I’d call this all for the betterment of Pakistan. Be it Telenor or PTI, both are trying to mobilise the youth to change the future of Pakistan. Working for their personal interests too, obviously.
If someone has a doubt over the credibility of Imran Khan or Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, I would advise you to watch the press conference held at Dr. Arif Alvi’s house for Javed Hasmi when Mr. Hashmi joined PTI.
Imran Khan clearly stated that if the party did not give results, when in government, he himself will resign from the party.
After listening to this, atleast I won’t think twice before casting my vote. And I’d really appreciate that if u all also don’t do so.
Because we all r sick n tired of these family politicians that have been selling our country, our brothers, our sisters for decades now. And looting us all too.
People all the time talk about Imran Khan taking all the oldies from other parties but they do NOT realise the political scenario of Pakistan.
Here individuals get selected not the parties.
Btw, im talking about the majority of Pakistan i.e people living in villages etc.
Someone said that Shah Mahmood Qureshi remained silent on the issue of Raymond Davis. Brother, I’d recommend that u should please correct ur facts because he was on of the few people in the PPPP who took a stand against that american murderer. He even had to resign over that issue. And that issue alone was the reason that he was offered Ministry of Water & Power rather than the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Javed Hashmi, one of the most respected politicians in our country, the Senior Vice President of PML-N, he wants to rob our country too?
Then why would these people leave a party that has a sitting government & come to a party that doesn’t even have an elected MPA?
All of these people would’ve been elected again n again because of their support & respect in their constituencies. It wouldn’t matter whether the government was controlled by the PPP, PML-N or PTI.
These people have come to a party outside the government for a change.
If someone has an evil history, should we always let him down & tell him that ur not allowed in our society? NO!
People ARE guided towards righteousness & we should always give them a chance.
Yesterday, I was at a lunch held in Lahore for the new members of PTI.
Mr. Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Mr. Kasoori & others were present there. It was stated there that the PTI needs around 1100 electables for the elections, including MNAs, MPAs & Senators. Currently, is has around a 100 or so electables in the party. So, there is a light. We’ll be able to see around a 1000 news faces compared to the 100 old ones. So, there is hope.
All the oldies are there because of their experience in Politics & that’s what lacked in PTI before.
Now, ALHAMDOULILLAH, everything is moving forward to a better future. INSHA ALLAH!
Pakistan Zindabad!
Burai ke khilaf to bolna chaiye, zulm ko har tareqay se roknay ki koshish karna chaiye, as far as telenor is concerend, its a marketing strategy to grab more customers, operators in Pakistan are trying their best to grab customers and they don’t care if it annoys anyone.
Like mobi, u, warid they keep on spamming their users thought sms offering new services etc
On the other hand Ufone have broken the records of SMS Spamming in the world, they keep on send useless text msgs all the day (20-60 text msg average.
I would like to suggests “propakistani team” to have a review on SMS Spamming in Pakistan by Mobile Phone Operators
خلافت کو ختم کرنے کے لیے بادشاہت آئ، بادشاہت کو ختم کرنے کے لیے جمہوریت آئ ا، بھی جمہوریت چل رہی ہے اس کے بعد دوبارہ بادشاہت آیگی پھر دوبارہ خلافت.
میں تو شروع سے لیکر آخر تک خلافت کا حامی ہوں. اگر مسلمان ہو تو خلافت کے حامی بنو. پاکستان خود بہ خود ترققی کریگا اور مسلم دنیا کو ایک کریگا. ایک مثال ہے آپکے سامنے امریکا کتنا بڑا ملک ہے لیکن اپنے ملک میں صرف ٢ جماعتوں کے علاوہ کسی تیسری جماعت کو بننے کی اجازت نہیں دیتا. کیوں ؟ برطانیہ صرف ٣ جماعتیں ہیں وہاں. اجازت ہی نہیں دیتے وہاں لیکن یہاں ہم کو بیوقوف بناتے ہیں اور ہم بنتے ہیں. اسلام میں حکومتی بنیاد پر جمہوریت نہیں، صرف خلافت ہے.
@ author .. its refreshing to hear that people trace raising voice against injustice to PTI. its a real victory for Imran Khan
All politics aside, a company registered under the Companies Ordinance, 1984 is barred under section 197 to make any contribution to a political party or for a political purpose to any individual. Irrespective of whether you agree with their political activity or not, it is barred by our law.