Co-chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari has joined the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) after finally gaining majority in the latter party, with the joining of Imtiaz Safdar Warraich.
“At first, it didn’t seem likely, but, as they say, there is no last word in PTI internal politics,” said Dr Hassan Mehsud of the political science department at LUMS. “It was a long struggle but Zardari finally came through.”
The PTI (PPP) faction is currently being led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, with Shah Mahmood Qureshi serving as the deputy leader. Analysts predict that Asif Ali Zardari is unlikely to formally change that arrangement but is going to call the shots from behind the scenes. He gave indication as much when he spoke to reporters at a press conference when he joined the party. “I am going to serve the party as a follower of Imran Khan (and Bhutto). The party members are going to decide what role they have for me, which I will happily take on.”
“In the year 2018, Imran Khan will stage another dharna against election rigging, but not against the PML(N),” said Dr Mehsud. “It is probably going to be regarding alleged rigging in the PTI intraparty elections, against Asif Ali Zardari.