PESHAWAR: As no political party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could come up with a clear majority, both Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) are claiming to have achieved the required numbers to form the government.
But a late night development on Monday has put PTI in a strong position following a telephonic conversation between Imran Khan and the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) central deputy leader Sirajul Haq.
According to reports, the JI has agreed to government formation with the PTI.
Meanwhile, the PTI chief has nominated Pervaiz Khattak as party’s parliamentary party leader and next potential candidate for the slot of chief minister. The PTI, in an official release, has also confirmed the development.
Sources in the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) also confirmed to Dawn.com that Imran Khan has also telephoned QWP chief Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao. They said Sherpao has principally agreed to go with the PTI but the decision is likely to be announced after the QWP party meeting on Tuesday.
The Jamaat-i-Islami leader Israrullah on contact confirmed to Dawn.com that the JI had agreed to go with the PTI following Imran Khan’s call to join them.
Earlier, president of QWP’s KP chapter Sikander Khan Sherpao speaking to Dawn.com after a meeting with the PTI provincial chief Asad Qaiser said, “There is nothing on which we disagree and we are more or less on the same page but QWP would take the decision at the parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday.”
The PTI’s chief of its KP chapter, Asad Qaiser castigated Maulana Fazlur Rehman for manipulating the democratic environment and not respecting the people mandate given to the PTI.
“It’s no service to democracy rather enmity towards the peaceful and democratic forces,” said Qaiser.
“We shall form the government as we are almost there and such tactics won’t stop us,” he remarked.
On the other hand, JUI-F leader Abdul Jalil Jan claimed that it’s their democratic right to form government and troika of JUI-F, PML-N and QWP would be ruling the KP province.
“We have achieved the required number of seats. I can say we can count our number up-to 70 as 5 to 6 independents are also willing to join JUI-F so we are in more numbers than our rivals,” said Jalil.
