A third meeting between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League-Likeminded on making an alliance or merging the two parties remained inconclusive.
On Wednesday, PTI Chairman Imran Khan and PML-Likeminded leader former foreign minister Khursheed Kasuri met in Islamabad to discuss mode of cooperation. While Imran Khan tried to convince Kasuri to merge the two parties, the former minister insisted that making an alliance would be a better option, sources familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune.
Before PTI’s October 30 rally at Minar-e-Pakistan, PML-Likeminded faction led by MPA Hamid Nasir Chatha had met Imran in which they agreed to make an alliance. However, after PTI’s monumental rally, Imran became reluctant to do so.
Meanwhile, the PML-Q Likeminded also split up into two. One group is led by Kasuri and Chatha who want to join the PTI, while the other is led by former minister Humayun Akhtar Khan, who has announced to join the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
After PTI’s Lahore rally, Chatha along with senior leaders of his faction met Imran and held negotiations.
The sources said that Kasuri recently held a meeting with his party members, including Chatha, and sought permission to meet Imran. The former foreign minister suggested that the party can be called Pakistan Muslim League Junejo (PML-J).
Kasuri is said to have given a list of veteran politicians, including Chatha, former speaker National Assembly Chaudhry Ameer Hussain, former speaker Punjab Assembly Afzal Sahi, Nasrullah Dareeshak, Mian Asif and a few serving parliamentarians from Sindh, for the new party.
Kasuri tried to persuade Imran to make an alliance but the latter is understood to have called such a move premature. The sources also quoted Imran as telling Kasuri that since elections are to be held after a year, an alliance can be discussed next winter.
The two, however, have agreed to continue negotiations. In the coming days, Kasuri will hold a meeting with his party to discuss Imran’s suggestions.
The time to make an alliance has passed and whoever wants to stand with the PTI should join the party, PTI’s General Secretary Dr Arif Alvi told The Express Tribune.
He insisted that his party will never make an alliance with any such faction. He, however, said Imran’s meeting with Kasuri was “positive”.
Likeminded central information secretary Mian Asif said that PML-J has been revived and they wanted to make an alliance with PTI.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 8th, 2011.
COMMENTS (13)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1714119118-0/image-(7)1714119118-0-270x192.webp)
1714024018-0/ModiLara-(1)1714024018-0-270x192.webp)
@ s.khan
I think libel laws should be strengthened in Pakistan as I see every tom, dick and harry throwing allegations left, right and center as if they themselves are a paragon of integrity
@zia ur rehman:
Keeping the rupee "flat" is a bad policy especially if your inflation rate is higher than that of your trading partners and competitors! If that is the case, your exchange rate becomes non-competitive. It APPRECIATES in real effective terms.
As a consequence, exports did poorly in Mush's time -- especially when measured as a ratio to GDP. Imports, on the other hand, surged.
We should have been doing exactly the opposite!
whats wrong with PTI...this kasuri guy has a fraud business of VoIP company which in the history of that company has never paid tax to the government.... hwo will he declare assets or anything for that matter!
@Anti-Truth: It is true that musharraf made biggest blunder of his life by joining US's war on terror, but it is also true that it was his team, which kept the pakistan rupee flat at 60 for almost 5 years, which made Pakistan the 3rd fastest growing economy in the world and the goldmansachs (an economic firm, which nominated the BRIC (brazil, russia, india, china) placed it among the next eleven economic powers. Nevertheless, it is useless to debate with u, because u are an "Anti-Truth"...:D
I never liked Kasuri, and I personally think an alliance would be a much better option rather than having these old corrupt faces becoming part of party which would only have a detrimental effect on Imran's popularity with the youth.
Well they are in negotiations with Mr Kasuri but they are not at all in negotiations with people like Amir Muqam,Raza Rabbani,Faisal Hayat or Wasim Sajjad.When will that happen????nice move by IK
The hard bargaining continues for the new King's Party. All Mush's remnants supported by establishment have no other choice but to join the new rightwing alliance.
PTI fans should start preparing both sides of the argument. If Kasuri joins, he is a great man. If not, then it’s good for PTI
LOL. ET does it again! Imran Khan did not INSIST that both parties should be MERGED. He said Khurshid Kasuri should come ALONE if he wants to join PTI.
Keep facts clean, please!
Well...it seems like PTI & IK are being cautious...we will consider it a good sign.
yup.. i agreed with Mr Kasuri's point of view.. Making an alliance will be much better and it will also not frustrate the Insafians, who have reservations on these old faces coming in the party. Nevertheless, Vote for change, VOTE FOR IMRAN KHAN!!!...