Imran Khan Open to Dialogue with PPP for Government Formation
The ties between the two political parties will be taken forward,” party sources say.
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan reportedly softened his stance against political rivals as he has agreed to hold talks with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on the matter of government formation in the Centre, on Thursday.
According to the sources, the incarcerated Khan is “ready” to talk to the PPP.
“The ties between the two political parties will be taken forward,” the sources said, adding that a committee will be formed for talks between PTI and PPP on government formation.
The development comes as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has forge an alliance with other political parties including PPP to form coalition government in the Centre despite the PTI-backed independent candidates winning the most National Assembly seats in the February 8 polls.
The PTI has also planned to reach out to rivals such as Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Awami National Party, Jamaat-e-Islami and other nationalist parties protesting against alleged rigging in the elections.
The development two days after PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari expressed willingness to hold talks with PTI to promote reconciliation process in the country.
“We wanted that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf should also have been included in the reconciliation process as we want that not only the PTI to be part of this process of reconciliation but every political power to be part of the process of reconciliation.
“We want to go together with economic, defence agenda and other similar things and make Mian Sahib and other friends successful so that we can make Pakistan and its people successful,” he had announced at a joint press of six-party alliance on Tuesday.
‘Misleading reports’
However, the PTI denied the reports of contacting PPP for government formation.
PTI leader Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said the party founder had “strictly” advised against holding talks with PPP and PML-N.
“Reports of [PTI] forming government with PPP are misleading. The PTI founder said to sit in opposition but not to forge alliance with PPP and PML-N,” he added.
Khan nominates Omer Ayub for PM slot
On the other hand, the party has announced the nomination of its Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan for the post of the country’s prime minister.
The significant plans were announced by leader Asad Qaiser who conveyed the developments during a presser after he met with PTI founder Imran Khan at the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.
The sources told Geo News about Khan’s decision to form a committee tasked to negotiate with political parties under Qaiser’s leadership.
According to the sources, the PTI founder told Qaiser that all decisions would be taken in consultation with the political leadership and that they should prepare for government formation.
More From Daily The Destination: Imran Khan nominates Ali Amin Gandapur as CM KP
Khan was also consulted about an alliance with a new political party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the task of which has also been given to Qaiser, the sources added.
The political committee will make decisions regarding negotiations with political parties, the party sources said, adding that the PTI founder is ready to discuss serious issues with them.
‘Imran Khan seeks US help against rigging’
PTI leader Barrister Saif, who was also present during the presser, said PTI founder wants the United States to keep an eye on election rigging and raise its voice against it.
The US has patronised and supported dictators and corrupt people everywhere, Saif said, conveying Khan’s message, but Washington now has a chance to “rectify its mistakes”.
He added that the US did not raise its voice on the elections in Pakistan, as it should have.
Meanwhile, Barrister Saif also announced that the party will nominate Asad Qaiser’s brother Aqeebullah for the KP assembly’s speaker post.
Imran Khan Approves Alliance with PTI-P for Government Formation in KP
PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has approved an alliance with PTI-P — the party’s breakaway faction led by Pervez Khattak— to form a coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The sources said talks were held between the PTI and Khattak’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTI-P) with Imran Khan’s consent.
Currently, PTI is leading the house of 145 with 84 seats while PTI-P only won two seats in the Feb 8 elections in the KP Assembly
The sources said the PTI decided to forge an alliance with Khattak’s party following the refusal of the Jamaat-e-Islami.
Meanwhile, despite the PTI’s winning a clear majority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, uncertainty about the formation of government in the province prevails in the absence of leadership, Geo News reported citing sources.
The sources said even after one week of the general elections, the PTI still could not gather its elected members.
No consultation has yet begun on the government’s formation in KP, which had puzzled the MPs-elect, the sources said.
They said Taimur Khan Jhagra, Kamran Bangash and other senior leaders were busy holding protests against the alleged rigging in the polls.
Speaking to Geo News, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Mushtaq Ghani said it was unfortunate that the members of the assembly could not be gathered yet. He said PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur had been given the responsibility but his father passed away.
Incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan on Tuesday nominated former federal minister Ali Amin Gandapur as his party’s candidate for KP’s chief minister.
“Some of the PTI leadership is facing cases, whereas many other PTI leaders are in jails,” Ghani said.
He said in two or three days, the members of the assembly would be gathered.
