Swelling ranks: Independent MPAs join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
The party’s seats in Khyber-Pakhthunkhwa Assembly now total 38.
"We have informed (Pervaiz) Khattak of our priorities which include establishing peace and initiating development projects in our constituencies," MPA-elect from Bannu, Shah Muhammad Khan. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR/DI KHAN:
Now that the party’s mandate in the province is no longer being debated, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is drawing independent MPA into its fold.
Winning candidate from PK-65 DI Khan City-II, Samiullah Alizai, who contested as an independent, said on Saturday he has joined the PTI.
Alizai said he had held a meeting with PTI chief Imran Khan at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, Lahore and then decided to join the party. “I have left the alliance of the independent candidates of K-P. I did it in the interest of the people of the province,” Alizai told The Express Tribune.
On March 29, Alizai and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) had agreed upon seat adjustment for PK-65 in a press conference in Shor Kot, DI Khan. Following this, Alizai quit the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and contested as an independent.
Alizai also served as K-P’s minister for industry during the previous coalition government of Awami National Party (ANP) and PPP.
Meanwhile, independent MPAs from Bannu and Hangu announced on Saturday they have also joined PTI.
According to a statement issued by PTI’s provincial media cell, Shah Muhammad Khan, MPA-elect from Bannu, and Fareed Khan, MPA-elect from Hangu, met PTI’s K-P chief minister-designate Pervaiz Khattak and decided to join the party in the larger interest of the province.
Shah Muhammad and Fareed Khan had been part of the United Front, an alliance of eight independent candidates, who previously announced they would be joining political parties.
While talking to The Express Tribune Shah said the people voted them to power and their decision to be part of the ruling party was taken in the interest of the public. “We have informed Khattak of our priorities which include establishing peace and initiating development projects in our constituencies,” Shah concluded.
With the inclusion of independent winners, the total number of PTI MPAs in the K-P Assembly has now reached 38. Earlier, Ibadul Haq, an independent candidate from Kohistan had also joined the PTI.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 19th, 2013.
Now that the party’s mandate in the province is no longer being debated, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is drawing independent MPA into its fold.
Winning candidate from PK-65 DI Khan City-II, Samiullah Alizai, who contested as an independent, said on Saturday he has joined the PTI.
Alizai said he had held a meeting with PTI chief Imran Khan at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, Lahore and then decided to join the party. “I have left the alliance of the independent candidates of K-P. I did it in the interest of the people of the province,” Alizai told The Express Tribune.
On March 29, Alizai and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) had agreed upon seat adjustment for PK-65 in a press conference in Shor Kot, DI Khan. Following this, Alizai quit the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and contested as an independent.
Alizai also served as K-P’s minister for industry during the previous coalition government of Awami National Party (ANP) and PPP.
Meanwhile, independent MPAs from Bannu and Hangu announced on Saturday they have also joined PTI.
According to a statement issued by PTI’s provincial media cell, Shah Muhammad Khan, MPA-elect from Bannu, and Fareed Khan, MPA-elect from Hangu, met PTI’s K-P chief minister-designate Pervaiz Khattak and decided to join the party in the larger interest of the province.
Shah Muhammad and Fareed Khan had been part of the United Front, an alliance of eight independent candidates, who previously announced they would be joining political parties.
While talking to The Express Tribune Shah said the people voted them to power and their decision to be part of the ruling party was taken in the interest of the public. “We have informed Khattak of our priorities which include establishing peace and initiating development projects in our constituencies,” Shah concluded.
With the inclusion of independent winners, the total number of PTI MPAs in the K-P Assembly has now reached 38. Earlier, Ibadul Haq, an independent candidate from Kohistan had also joined the PTI.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 19th, 2013.