US congressional resolution 'certainly a PTI's victory', says PML-N leader

Senator Irfan Siddiqui, parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the upper house, has said that the US resolution calling for a probe into alleged irregularities in Pakistan's February 8 general elections was "indeed" a victory of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

"We had grievances regarding the 2018 general elections. However, we, [PML-N], could not convince the US House of Representatives over the issue," the PML-N leader said, speaking on Geo News programme 'Capital Talk' on Tuesday. 

On June 26, the United States House of Representatives approved a resolution urging an impartial probe into the claims of irregularities during the February 8 general elections in the country.

At least 368 members of the US House voted in favour of the resolution and called for a "full and independent investigation of claims of interference or irregularities in Pakistan’s February 2024 election."

Through the resolution, the US lawmakers have emphasised the need for the Pakistani public's participation in the country's democratic process months after its general polls were contested as "rigged" and its outcome termed "delayed" by political parties now seated on the opposition benches in the legislature.

The Foreign Office (FO) has maintained that the US house resolution“stems from an incomplete understanding of the political situation and electoral process in Pakistan”.

In today's show, the ruling party senator said it was their political failure and inefficiency "Or it may be the case that we believed we should not wash our dirty linen in public".

In contrast, the PTI managed to convince 386 members of the US House of Representatives about the poll rigging, he added. Denouncing the PTI, he maintained that their "success" put a "black mark" against the country.

'No space for Khan'

Speaking on the same talk show, PTI Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan said that the party would hold negotiations with all political parties except those "involved in the theft of the public mandate".

He said that Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai was heading the opposition alliance, noting that the party would hold a meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in a few days as part of efforts to address his reservations.

While maintaining that PTI founder Imran Khan can be released from prison in the next 15 days, the spokesperson questioned: "But will the PTI founder be released?"

Hasan maintained that he did not see any "space" for the incarcerated leader, saying "they would not allow him [Imran Khan] to come out" from jail.

He said the party had been making all-out efforts for the last five months to launch a vital movement for Khan's early release. However, the party has been denied permission to hold a single rally. The party has planned a public rally in Sihala, Islamabad on July 6, however, its NOC has not been issued thus far, he noted.

Replying to a question regarding the party's defectors, Hasan said that the dominant opinion in the party was against accepting deserters.

Khan has not indicated that these people would be taken back into the party's fold, he added.

Responding to a question in connection with former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, Hasan said that it was Fawad who jumped the ship, hence, he had no right to speak for the party as he is no more part of the party.