The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is not looking to forge an alliance with Dr Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) led by the Chaudhrys of Gujrat and all such insinuations being made on news channels are false and contrary to facts, Pakistan Today has reliably learnt.
PTI insiders, on condition of anonymity, told Pakistan Today that “proximity journalism” was at work to create an impression that the party led by cricketer-turned-politician, Imran Khan was mulling a “grand opposition alliance” with Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s PML and Qadri’s PAT, and the top leaderships of the three parties would meet in London to discuss the modalities and future course of the joint action.
“There is absolutely no truth in the news reports making rounds on various news channels. PTI is not looking to join hands with PML or PAT. Our party leader Imran Khan has gone to London to meet his children and to attend a fundraising event… no meeting has been scheduled between him and either of the two ‘eager parties’,” said a PTI leader.
He said that PTI would keep its distance from PML, which had tainted its reputation over the years and from Dr Qadri “whose agenda does not match PTI’s political vision”.
“Jehangir Tareen and Shah Mahmood Qureshi had meetings with Chaudhry Shujaat and Pervez Elahi over last year’s poll rigging. Discussing electoral reforms with political parties does not mean that we are thinking of entering into any anti-government alliance with them,” he said, adding that PTI had sufficient vote bank and did not need PML and PAT’s support to “raise crowds”.
CHAUDHRYS MEET QADRI:
Earlier news channels reported a meeting between the Chaudhrys and Dr Qadri in London in which the two parties were claimed to have reached an understanding on forming a “grand opposition alliance”. News channels and some wire agencies claimed that PTI chief Imran Khan would also meet with the leaderships of the two parties on Saturday (today).
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Qadri said that the prevailing system in Pakistan was against the aspiration of people of Pakistan and it would do nothing for the masses.
“I have given 10-point agenda, our meeting with Q-league leaders will continue on Saturday,” he said, adding that all those wanted to eliminate the system of corruption and rigging in Pakistan were backing him
Speaking on the occasion, Shujaat Hussain and Pervez Elahi said the situation was deteriorating in Pakistan as the incumbent government was based on rigged election.
The PML leaders said that they would contact all opposition parties in Pakistan and invite them to join their alliance.
PML-N UNDETERRED:
Commenting on the London meeting, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan said PML and PAT were conspiring against an elected government.
“But there antics are of little importance because the people have already pinned the PML’s back against the wall in last year’s general elections and Qadri’s supporters have also lost faith in him because of his frequent U-turns,” he said.