PESHAWAR, May 13: The Jamaat-i-Islami announced on Monday night that it was aligning with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in its efforts to from government in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa.

JI’s provincial spokesperson Advocate Israrullah told Dawn that a meeting of the party’s executive had decided to support the PTI which had the mandate to serve the people of KP.

The meeting, presided over by Prof Ibrahim, was held soon after a PTI team led by its central Secretary General Pervez Khattak had met JI leader Sirajul Haq to convey his party’s desire to form the government in KP with their support.

The PTI has so far won 34 seats in the KP assembly of 99 members, while the JI has seven seats.

The PTI is hoping to rope in Aftab Sherpao’s Qaumi Watan Party which has bagged 10 seats.

The development took place amid a statement by PTI’s provincial secretary information and MPA-elect Shaukat Yousafzai that the party’s chairman, Imran Khan, has named Pervez Khattak as the party’s parliamentary leader and also his choice to become the next chief minister of KP.

This will help put to rest an internal power struggle between Mr Khattak and the party’s provincial president Asad Qaisar who also is aspiring for the top post.