PTI won’t be part of any grand alliance: Umar

ISLAMABAD:

Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday clarified that it would not become a part of any multiparty alliance against the government but would continue to project its own point of view over issues of national interest.

“The PTI will not become a part of any grand alliance,” said Asad Umar while responding to a question about changing political scenario in the wake of a hard-hitting statement made by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari against the government a day earlier.

The PTI leader expressed hopelessness as he said, “Raising voice in parliament [over issues] is futile… the rulers will not mend their ways and address issues of the people unless they are challenged in the streets.”

He, however, clarified that taking to the streets to press the government was his personal opinion and he would suggest the party for adopting this approach in the upcoming meeting.

When asked about the party’s future plan of action regarding its demand for resignations of provincial election commissioners, Umar said that the announcement would be made on October 4 after consultation. The party will be holding a daylong sit-in in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on October 4.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd,  2015.