“Keeping in view their (the PTI’s) attitude, we will support every good measure they take.” says Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan.
PESHAWAR:
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) stance on allowing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to form a new government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has tainted Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) hopes to sideline the PTI.
The PML-N in K-P affirmed it would honour PTI’s mandate after the party bagged 34 provincial assembly seats on Election Day. PML-N leader Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan told journalists on Tuesday his party had no intention of thwarting the PTI’s attempt to form K-P’s provincial government.
“I will not comment on the JUI-F’s aspirations, whatever they may be, but will make it clear that the PML-N openheartedly accepts the PTI’s mandate to form the provincial government,” said Mehtab, who is the PML-N’s only prominent figure to win his constituency in K-P.
Nawaz Sharif’s party remains crucial in K-P’s politics even though it only secured 13 seats in the province. With sufficient support from coalition partners, it can make or break the provincial government.
On the other hand, the JUI-F remains hopeful of forming the government by approaching the 13 independent candidates who succeeded in the province in addition to the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) and PML-N.
In contrast with the PTI, the party enjoys cordial relations with both the PML-N and QWP.
“If the PTI extends a positive gesture to us in K-P, we are ready to respond in kind,” Mehtab added, hinting his party is even ready to be part of the new government if offered. “PTI is free in choosing its options and can go with whoever it wants.”
Mehtab was accompanied by PML-N General Secretary Rahmat Salam Khattak. He defended his stance by pointing out PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif’s position of inviting all political stakeholders to join him in order to salvage the country from the current crises.
“Though we did not show good results in K-P, we will play our positive role,” Mehtab said. “Keeping in view their (the PTI’s) attitude, we will support every good measure they take.”
Mehtab termed the JUI-F’s attempts to contact the PML-N in K-P a ‘post-election phenomena’, often carried out by parties to “exchange views.” He further said his party would not make any attempts to destabilise K-P.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 15th, 2013.
COMMENTS (3)
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Thank you. You sir are a gentleman. (From a PTI member)
PTI should stop acting childish and show maturity as Sardar Abbasi has shown...if he gives even a hint to JUI then JUI would form the government in KPK and PTI would sit in cold weather while Maulana is enjoying fruits of his efforts....Post election pTi strategy shows lack of maturity. IT may be better for PTI to just form the govt with PMLn in order to avoid blackmailing by three smaller parties.
Well also show a proper sports man ship by have a recount on votes esp where the casted votes are more than the registered and esp in lahore where you casted five votes in just one second than we also can enjoy the positeve sportsman ............