Imran to take oath publicly at D-Chowk: Naeemul Haque

0
307
  • PTI reiterates it will form govt in Punjab

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Naeemul Haq on Sunday said that prime minister-elect Imran Khan will take oath at D-Chowk in Islamabad.

In 2014, PTI held its 126-day long sit-in at D-Chowk against the rigging in general elections 2013.

Haq wrote on his Twitter: “Imran Khan would prefer a peoples ceremony of oath-taking where thousands can watch him take the oath as PM of Pakistan. Perhaps D Chowk area may be the right place to do it. Let’s hope so. Will keep on updating on this.”

On Saturday, talking to media, Naeemul Haq had said that Imran Khan will take oath on August 14.

In August 2014, PTI started its long march which ended in the sit-in at D-Chowk. After reaching Islamabad the protesters had announced that they would remain at D-Chowk until their demands are met.

PTI WILL FORM GOVT IN PUNJAB: FAWAD CHAUDHARY 

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhary has said that they will form the government, both in centre and Pakistan’s biggest province-Punjab.

“PTI has the number to form the government in Punjab,” he reiterated.

Furthermore, PTI leader Mian Aslam Iqbal stated that Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi will join PTI to form the government in Punjab.

The PTI scooped up 16.86 million votes in a better-than-expected performance in the General Elections 2018 that were held on Wednesday, trouncing the party of jailed former premier Nawaz Sharif, which finished second with 12.89 million votes.

PTI’s 115 seats put Imran Khan short of the 137 required for an assembly majority, meaning he is likely to need a multi-party coalition with religious parties and independents to form a government.

Without the required majority, the PTI is relying on independents as well as parties, like the PML-Q, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) in addition to its natural ally, Sheikh Rasheed.

There are also reports of a possible alliance with MQM-Pakistan (MQM-P) which has six seats in the house. PTI won’t find allies in PPP and PTI because of the bitter rivalry.

On Thursday, 65-year-old former cricket star had addressed the nation and had said: “We were successful and we were given a mandate,” adding in a conciliatory note that there would be “no political victimisation” of his opponents in the future.

As the results of the 2018 elections transpired, PTI managed to bag 116 seats in the National Assembly (NA) with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) trailing behind with 64 seats in the parliament, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). On the third spot stood Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) which gained 43 seats.

In order to form the federal government, PTI required 137 seats of total 272 to form a majority government. Lacking the required number, the party had formed committees under the leadership of Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Jahangir Tareen to invite the 14 independently elected member of NA to PTI.

Earlier on Saturday, Shabeer Qureshi, who had defeated Ghulam Mustafa Khar in NA-181, and Basit Sultan Bukhari, who had won against Moazzam Jataoi in NA-185, from Muzzafargarh had announced to join PTI.

On July 27, Saleh Mohammad Khan Swati who was elected an independent candidate from NA-13, Mansehra, had also joined PTI.