Back in the game: APML to emerge as ‘third force’ in the country in 2018 elections

Former president Pervez Musharraf is now the official chairperson of the party

KARACHI: The All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) has claimed it will emerge as the 'third force' in the country in the general elections of 2018 as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has disappointed the people.

Party head Pervez Musharraf chaired the meeting of the APML's central executive committee at his residence on Sunday, in which the provincial leadership from all areas participated and discussed various issues, including the ongoing local government (LG) elections and the party's organisational setup across the country.



According to Aasia Ishaque, the party's information secretary, some political groups including the Like-Minded group and Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa have signed a declaration, merging their groups into the APML. "Other parties are also in contact and will merge into the APML soon," said Ishaque. She also confirmed that the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League - Functional and Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid are also in contact with the APML leadership.

Speaking to The Express Tribune after the meeting, Ishaque said, "Musharraf is the official chairperson of the APML now."

Criticising the policies of PTI, she said that it had disappointed the people and its decline has started now. "The results of the LG elections show that PTI is not the third force in Pakistan now," she said. "APML will emerge as the third political force in 2018 elections."

Ishaque said that her party supporters have won LG elections from different areas as independent candidates. "We'll announce [the names] after the third phase and it will be a surprise for all political parties," she added.

According to her, the APML will fill the political vacuum in urban Sindh. She said that party workers of Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz, PTI and others are joining the party, adding that the provincial leadership has been directed to concentrate on the organisational setup of the party.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2015.