Imran, Kasuri meeting yields no result
The two discuss just how the two parties could cooperate with each other.
LAHORE:
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.
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.