PTI approaches ‘like-minded’ parties to form govt in centre

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–PML-Q, GDA, BAP to be initially urged to form coalition govt in provinces

–Imran Khan-chaired PTI meeting decides to contact independent winners as well

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has decided to contact ‘like-minded’ political parties to form a coalition government in the centre, and Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan provinces.

Well-placed sources within the PTI have informed Pakistan Today that a high-level meeting was chaired by Imran Khan at Bani Gala decided to initiate contacts with the independent winners in national and provincial assemblies.

More than one source conformed when asked on the contacts that the party chairman had tasked senior leaders Jahangir Khan Tareen and Shah Mahmood Qureshi to contact the leaders of the like-minded political parties.

The sources said that the party decided to initially contact the leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Awami Muslim League (AML) and Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) to form the government in centre.

The sources said that the party leadership urged Imran Khan to make all possible efforts to increase the scope of a collation to Mutahidda Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) if there is a possibility to form a government in Sindh.

However, the sources said, since the results were still awaited, any decision about the formation of coalition governments in Sindh and Balochistan would be made in a few days.

In the centre, the PTI is going to seek an immediate support from 19 independent members, four PML-Q members, five members of GDA, six members from MQM and one member each from AML and BAP. However, BAP is set to gain more as several of its candidates are leading in various constituencies.

During an interview, PTI Spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry stated that Imran will decide the candidate for the position of Punjab chief minister if the party forms coalition government.