US wouldn't have dared to use drones if PTI was in Centre: Khattak

Prior to the voting, PML-N candidate for the post withdrew his papers in favour of Khattak.

PESHAWAR: If Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had formed government in the centre, the US would have not dared to conduct drone strikes, newly-elected Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Pervaiz Khattak said on Friday.

Khattak was speaking to K-P assembly after the members voted for the chief ministerial post.

Stressing on completely eradicating corruption from K-P, the chief minister said the assembly will have a zero-tolerance policy towards the issue.

PTI nominee Khattak was elected as 26^th chief minister for K-P after he bagged 84 votes.

His main opponent from Jamiat-e-Ulmea Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) gathered 37 votes.

Prior to the voting, Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) candidate for the post withdrew his papers.

Opposition leader

PML-N is likely to get the Leader of the Opposition slot in the assembly.

Sources privy to developments in the PML-N confirmed the party was now manoeuvring to secure the opposition leader’s slot.

“Even PTI, the leading coalition partner in the K-P Assembly, has been requested by the PML-N’s leadership to support its candidate for the post,” said an insider.

According to parliamentary procedure, the assembly speaker will ask the opposition benches to submit a name for the opposition leader’s slot. Following this, the opposition parties will come to a consensus and submit a name. In case there is no consensus, the speaker has the discretion to name a person for the post after evaluating the developing scenario himself.

Correction: In an earlier version of this story, it was erroneously mentioned that PML-N candidate had withdrawn his papers in favour of Khattak. The error is regretted.