PESHAWAR:
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has approached both the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to seek their support for the unopposed election of its candidate Muhammad Sohail Afridi as the next chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
PTI Provincial Chairman Junaid Akbar, accompanied by Sher Ali Arbab, Ali Khan Jadoon, Shaukat Yousafzai, Irfan Saleem and other party leaders, met ANP Provincial Chairman Mian Iftikhar Hussain and senior ANP officials at Bacha Khan Markaz in Peshawar on Sunday.
The meeting was also attended by ANP’s Syed Aqil Shah, Salahuddin, Hussain Shah Yousafzai, Arslan Khan Nazim, Hamid Toofan and Tariq Afghan.
According to party sources, the meeting focused on the political situation in the province and the upcoming elections for the prime minister. PTI leaders urged the ANP to support their candidate for the sake of political stability.
However, Mian Iftikhar Hussain sought time to consult his party’s central leadership and made it clear that the ANP “believes in the supremacy of Parliament and the Constitution”.
“We believe in democracy and continue to fight for its strengthening. The Awami National Party will not be part of any unconstitutional or undemocratic measures,” he added.
On the other hand, the PTI delegation, led by Junaid Akbar, also met Federal Minister Amir Muqam of the PML-N at his residence to seek support for the unopposed election of Sohail Afridi.
The PTI delegation included MNAs Sher Ali Arbab, Ali Khan Jadoon, Dr Amjad, Kabir Khan, Idrees Khattak, Laeeq Khan and Ikram Khattana.
During the meeting, Junaid Akbar said, “We have come with the hope of taking decisions together, like in the past. The problems facing the province can only be addressed collectively.” He added that the PTI has a clear majority in the provincial assembly and that “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cannot afford further instability.”
He urged opposition parties to cooperate so that Sohail Afridi could be elected unopposed.
Responding to the request, Amir Muqam said the PML-N would discuss the matter with other opposition parties in accordance with provincial traditions and inform the PTI of the decision after consulting its central leadership.
