Imran Khan 'ready' to talk to PPP for govt formation

• Committee to be formed for negotiations: sources.
• Asad Qaiser to lead committee tasked to hold talks with PPP, others.
• PTI-backed independents won most NA seats. 

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan reportedly softened his stance against political rivals as he has agreed to hold talks with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on the matter of government formation in the Centre, party sources told Geo News on Thursday.

According to the sources, the incarcerated Khan is "ready" to talk to the PPP.

"The ties between the two political parties will be taken forward," the sources said, adding that a committee will be formed for talks between PTI and PPP on government formation.

The development comes as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has allied with other political parties including PPP to form a coalition government in the Centre despite the PTI-backed independent candidates winning the most National Assembly seats in the February 8 polls. 

The PTI has also planned to reach out to rivals such as Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Awami National Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, and other nationalist parties protesting against alleged rigging in the elections.

The development two days after PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari expressed willingness to hold talks with PTI to promote the reconciliation process in the country.

“We wanted that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf should also have been included in the reconciliation process as we want not only the PTI to be part of this process of reconciliation but every political power to be part of the process of reconciliation.

“We want to go together with economic, defence agenda and other similar things and make Mian Sahib and other friends successful so that we can make Pakistan and its people successful,” he had announced at a joint press of six-party alliance on Tuesday.

'Misleading reports'

However, the PTI denied the reports of contacting PPP for government formation.

PTI leader Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said the party founder had “strictly” advised against holding talks with PPP and PML-N.

“Reports of [PTI] forming government with PPP are misleading. The PTI founder said to sit in opposition but not to forge alliance with PPP and PML-N,” he added.

Later, while talking to journalists after meeting with Khan in Rawalpindi, Barrister Gohar Khan and Sher Afzal Marwat also ruled out a coalition with the Bilawal-led party.

“We informed Khan sahib about PPP’s messages. In response, Khan sahib flatly rejected the idea of power-sharing with either the PPP or the PML-N,” Marwat told journalists. 

Khan nominates Omer Ayub for PM slot

On the other hand, the party has announced the nomination of its Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan for the post of the country's prime minister.

The significant plans were announced by leader Asad Qaiser who conveyed the developments during a presser after he met with PTI founder Imran Khan at the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.

The sources told Geo News about Khan's decision to form a committee tasked to negotiate with political parties under Qaiser's leadership.

According to the sources, the PTI founder told Qaiser that all decisions would be taken in consultation with the political leadership and that they should prepare for government formation.

Khan was also consulted about an alliance with a new political party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the task of which has also been given to Qaiser, the sources added.

The political committee will make decisions regarding negotiations with political parties, the party sources said, adding that the PTI founder is ready to discuss serious issues with them.

'Imran Khan seeks US help against rigging'

PTI leader Barrister Saif, who was also present during the presser, said PTI founder wants the United States to keep an eye on election rigging and raise its voice against it.

The US has patronised and supported dictators and corrupt people everywhere, Saif said, conveying Khan’s message, but Washington now has a chance to “rectify its mistakes”.

He added that the US did not raise its voice on the elections in Pakistan, as it should have.

Meanwhile, Barrister Saif also announced that the party will nominate Asad Qaiser's brother Aqeebullah for the KP assembly’s speaker post.