Putting up a fight: PTI to run for all parliamentary offices

Nominates Makhdoom Javed Hashmi for the office of prime minister.

LAHORE:

Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has decided to field its candidates for all top offices in the National Assembly, including the slot of leader of the house.

The decision was taken at PTI’s parliamentary party meeting chaired by Imran Khan in Lahore on Saturday. MNA-elect Makhdoom Javed Hashmi will be PTI’s candidate for the slot of leader of the house, prime minister.

Similarly, Shahryar Afridi, MNA-elect from Kohat, will be the party’s candidate for speaker while PTI’s Women Wing President Munaza Hasan will be contesting for the slot of deputy speaker.

Talking to reporters after the meeting PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that his party would act as a responsible, effective and vibrant opposition in the National Assembly.

He added that his party has decided to field its candidates for all parliamentary portfolios in the National Assembly.

Qureshi said MNA-elect from Karachi Dr Arif Alvi will represent PTI’s parliamentary party. “Ghulam Sarwar Khan will represent the party on Business Advisory Committee of the National Assembly,” he added.

Imran Khan is in good health and spirits, he said, adding that Imran chaired the whole meeting in a very fresh mood. “He (Imran Khan) is doing fine but if the first session of the National Assembly is convened on May 28 he will not attend it. Doctors have advised him to stay in Lahore for some time,” Qureshi added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2013.