Strength in numbers: Two more independent MPAs join the PTI fold

Chief minister designate promises to come up to the people’s expectations.

PESHAWAR: Two MPA-elects joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday, further strengthening the party’s position in forming the new Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government.

In an event held at the Officer’s Mess to mark the occasion, K-P chief minister designate Pervaiz Khattak termed the joining of Malik Qasim Khan Khattak of PK-41 and Muhammad Khan Wazir of PK-72 a “strong contributory factor” for forming a stable government.

On Thursday, three other independent MPAs, including Qalandar Khan Lodhi of PK-46, Mushtaq Ghani of PK-44 Abbottabad and Samiullah Alizai of PK-65 DI Khan, also joined PTI’s ranks. The party’s strength in the provincial legislative assembly now stands at 43 members with the induction of Malik Qasim and Muhammad Khan.

“The support of independent MPAs is a good omen for the formation of a stable government in K-P and fulfilling the expectations of the poor,” said Khattak. “The province is passing through a critical stage in its history, suffering from corruption, terrorism, power outages, inflation, unemployment and other problems, making life miserable,” he added. “We will ensure the party’s manifesto is implemented 100% and will come up to the expectations of the people.”

Malik Qasim followed suit, expressing full confidence in the PTI leadership, saying he would abide by the party’s manifesto and discipline. “I see an era of rapid development ahead, free of corruption. The province will march on the road to durable industrial and economic growth,” he claimed.

Muhammad Khan of PK-72 expressed similar sentiments regarding the province’s future and said he joined the PTI to work under the dynamic leadership of its chief Imran Khan and the incoming chief minister.

PTI Provincial General Secretary Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, MPA-elect from Nowshera Mian Khaliqur Rahman and MPA-elect from Peshawar Ziaullah Afridi among others were also present at the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2013.