- Spokesperson says party to form govt with MWM in Centre, Punjab and JI in KP
- If PTI needs JI to protect their independent candidates, we will welcome them: Baloch
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced making a government in Centre and Punjab on Tuesday with the Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) and with the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Currently, the PTI-backed candidates hold more than 90 seats in the National Assembly, followed by the PML-N with 75, and the PPP with 54, out of a total of 266 seats in the lower house. Including the 70 reserved seats brings the total number of seats to 336.
For a simple majority, a party needs to have at least 169 seats in the National Assembly.
The PTI-backed candidates after joining the MWM, can get reserve seats as proportionate to their total number of seats in the NA. Roughly, if it happens, then they can get more than 20 seats.
To get reserve seats after joining the MWM, the PTI-backed candidates will have to submit affidavits to the ECP stating that they were joining the MWM. Subsequently, the head of the MWM will have to give in writing to the ECP that he has accepted the independent candidates.
The PTI’s announcement came shortly after JI Deputy Amir Liaquat Baloch confirmed that the party has been in contact with the PTI on the matter of forming the government.
Baloch had a telephonic conversation with PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, Ali Amin Gandapur, and Senator Azam Swati in this regard, following which JI gave its consent for unified action.
Sources claim that leaders of the two parties will meet soon in Islamabad to hammer out further details and options available to form a government or take the role of the opposition.
“We are in touch with PTI leaders, if PTI needs JI to protect their independent candidates, we will welcome them,” said Baloch while talking to a private TV channel.
“As a political party, we are open and don’t have any demand PTI has yet to put forward their demands.”
JI to discuss PTI overture
Responding to the PTI’s announcement, JI deputy emir said “have received the message of forming government in KP from the PTI”. “Will respond to it following discussions with the party,” he added.
Baloch said his party was even prepared for an unconditional alliance. “We were willing to provide JI as a platform if the PTI needed one for its independent candidates,” the JI leader said, adding that, “Now they have said something new. So, we will discuss it among ourselves.”
Responding to a question about whether the JI was willing to sit with the MWM considering their different religious leanings, Baloch said the JI was “absolutely ready” to sit with the MWM.
“We have good political relations with the MWM,” he clarified.
