Independent winning candidates backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the political party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, have decided to form an alliance with the religious-based political party Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). At a press conference on Sunday (February 18), PTI leaders expressed hope for government formation at the Centre, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
ARY News quoted sources as saying that PTI independent members will join the Sunni Ittehad Council, a religious-based political party, after submitting their affidavits. However, earlier PTI announced to form an alliance with another political party of the country, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimin (MWM) at the center and in Punjab province. But after this announcement, some members of the party opposed the alliance with MWM.
PTI Central Information Secretary Raof Hasan said that Imran Khan has approved the alliance with the two parties. We will form an alliance with MWM at the Center and Punjab and with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for reserved seats.
However, multiple PTI sources said on Sunday that they have decided to ally with the Center and the Sunni Ittehad Council in Punjab. SIC President Hamid Raza extended support to PTI. He also won the last February 8 election. He also met the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, who is imprisoned in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.
It is to be noted that in the national elections of Pakistan on February 8, no party got the majority to form the government. PTI-backed independent candidates won the most seats in the election. However, PTI has been complaining that public vote has been stolen in this election. Several parties, including the PTI, are holding protests across the country to protest vote fraud and demand the announcement of revised results.
