Pakistan: Candidates supported by Imran Khan's PTI officially join Sunni Ittehad Council

PTI leaders Gohar Khan and Omar Ayub have chosen not to submit their sworn statements to join the Sunni Ittehad Council because they intend to participate in the party’s internal elections. They are deliberately holding back their affiliation for now. The PTI, under Imran Khan’s leadership, has dismissed the coalition announcement, labeling it as ‘PDM 2.0’ and has pledged to establish the government independently.

Islamabad

In Islamabad, nearly all candidates from Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, whose leader is currently in prison, have completed the required paperwork by submitting their sworn statements to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). This formalizes their association with the right-wing Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) as they strive to establish governments at the federal and certain provincial levels. The PTI was unable to directly participate in the elections because their designated electoral symbol, a cricket bat, was not approved for use.

On Wednesday, a significant number of candidates officially submitted their sworn statements for various assemblies in Pakistan. According to Dawn, 89 candidates for the National Assembly, 85 members for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, 106 members for the Punjab Assembly, and nine members for the Sindh Assembly completed this process. This action aligns with the recent announcement by the PTI regarding a “formal agreement” with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). As per this agreement, the PTI is set to obtain its portion of reserved seats designated for women and minorities, solidifying their collaboration.

Omar, Gohar did not file affidavits

Three prominent leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), namely Barrister Gohar Khan, Omar Ayub Khan – who is positioned as the PTI’s candidate for the prime ministerial role – and Ali Amin Gandapur, opted not to submit their affidavits. Additionally, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had yet to issue a notification for another candidate.

The decision by Omar and Gohar to refrain from filing their affidavits was a deliberate one, as they have intentions to vie for positions in the upcoming intra-party elections of the PTI. On the other hand, Gandapur chose not to submit his affidavit due to his nomination as the PTI’s candidate for the chief minister position in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Reports suggest that the PTI’s intra-party elections are scheduled to take place within the next two weeks. Gohar has been nominated for the role of chairman, while Raoof Hassan is slated to serve as the Chief Election Commissioner for the PTI’s intra-party polls, as indicated by local media sources.

It’s noteworthy to mention that PTI’s previous internal elections faced rejection by the electoral watchdog amid allegations of a military-backed crackdown. This led to the party losing its electoral symbol and compelled its candidates to run as independents in subsequent elections.

A coalition government in making

In an unexpected display of strength, candidates supported by imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged victorious in the National Assembly, securing the highest number of seats. However, their ability to form a government was hindered by the PTI losing its electoral symbol. Independent candidates, the majority of whom were backed by Imran Khan’s PTI, won 93 seats in the National Assembly.

Despite this, Pakistan is poised to witness the establishment of its next coalition government, as Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Bilawal Bhutto’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have reached a power-sharing agreement after weeks of negotiations. The PML-N secured 75 seats, while the PPP came in third with 54 seats. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), with 17 seats, has pledged support to the two main parties.

This coalition arrangement could potentially keep Imran Khan’s PTI, their main rival, out of power following controversial elections marred by allegations of rigging. The PTI has accused the PML-N and PPP of planning to seize power with a fraudulent mandate and has labeled the scenario as “PDM 2.0”. Furthermore, they allege a conspiracy for regime change, purportedly supported by the chief election commissioner, which they see as a mockery of constitutional and legal norms.

According to Dawn, a spokesperson for the PTI criticized the gathering of a group they deem “rejected by the nation” for orchestrating what they describe as a “drama” of PDM 2.0, which they find unacceptable and intolerable. The spokesperson claimed that based on Form 45s, the PTI had been given an overwhelming majority of 180 seats in the National Assembly.

The party’s spokesperson emphasized the importance of learning from history and respecting the public mandate, citing the tragic consequences of past electoral fraud, such as the fall of Dhaka. They stressed the need to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and the will of the people to prevent similar calamities in the future.

‘A new era’: PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz in Punjab province

PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz, daughter of party leader Nawaz Sharif, who is vying for the position of Chief Minister of Punjab province, expressed optimism about a “new era” unfolding for the region. She emphasized that this era would be shaped by the principles and precedents set by her father and Shehbaz Sharif during their respective terms as Chief Ministers. Maryam asserted that the PML-N holds a “clear majority” in the province. If elected, she would make history as Pakistan’s first female Chief Minister, overseeing a province with a population exceeding 127 million, constituting more than half of Pakistan’s total population.

Expressing gratitude towards the people of Punjab for their support in the challenging election, Maryam pledged to lead with a focus on service and dedication. She emphasized the importance of teamwork in fulfilling the expectations of the populace while carrying out her responsibilities diligently.

In a significant development announced by the coalition on Tuesday, it was revealed that PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif would be nominated for the Prime Ministerial position, with PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari aspiring to become the next President. However, the PPP has opted out of joining Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet, instead expressing interest in securing key constitutional positions such as deputy NA speaker and Senate chairman.

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