- Tells senior journalists and lawyers he will spring a ‘surprise’ soon
- Says ‘fascist govt’ thinking of more coercive measures to crush PTI while economy crashes
LAHORE: On the instruction of party chairman Imran Khan, the PTI has constituted a seven-member negotiation committee for talks with the incumbent government over elections.
Taking to Twitter, the PTI said that the seven-member committee – which will be headed by Shah Mehmood Qureshi – will decide the plan of action with the government regarding the elections.
The committee comprises party vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pervez Khattak, Asad Qaiser, Hammad Azhar, Haleem Adil Sheikh, Murad Saeed and Aon Abbas Buppi.
The development came after Pakistan Terheek-e-Insaf (PTI) suffered major blows as prominent leaders – Ali Zaidi, Khusro Bakhtiar, Imran Ismail, Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari, Maleeka Bokhari and many others publicly announced parting ways with the party.
It is pertinent to mention here that several PTI lawmakers and members have parted their ways with the party following the May 9 violence, wherein military installations including General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and Corps Commander House Lahore were attacked after the arrest of party chairman Imran Khan.
Earlier, PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday asserted that he was ready to constitute a committee for talks and would step back if the panel is convinced on ‘two conditions’.
“I am forming a committee for dialogues. It will talk about two things — if the country can function better without me, I will leave politics. Second, how is it beneficial for the country if elections are held in October,” the former premier said while addressing the party workers and supporters.
Imran Khan said that convince them on these two things, and he was ready to retreat for the sake of the country. “I am forming a committee and I will announce this tomorrow,” he announced.
‘Would spring a surprise soon’
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday appeared optimistic about the future of his party and political situation, saying that he would spring a ‘surprise’ soon.
Talking to senior journalists and lawyers at his residence in Lahore’s Zaman Park, the former prime minister said that some of PTI lawmakers have been forced to quit the party while others have been exposed.
As the exodus from the party continues, Imran Khan noted that it he gets arrested or disqualified, PTI senior vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi will lead the party.
Responding to a question, the former premier praised his party’s leader Murad Saeed as the ‘future leader’. He also clarified that there is no conflict with the army, stating, “This army is mine.”
He appeared optimism about the future of his party, mentioning that times are about to change and promising a significant surprise in the future.
Imran Khan also lambasted the incumbent government over ‘failed economic policies’ and said that the country’s economy was deteriorating ‘rapidly’. He emphasised that elections are the only solution to address the situation.
The PTI chief further said that the youth are the party’s most valuable asset, stating, “The youth are our greatest capital”. He added that the party ticket is their rightful claim.
In response to a question regarding President Dr Arif Alvi, Khan expressed confidence that he will work in accordance with the Constitution. He also hoped that PTI will the next general elections whenever they happen.
Earlier in the day, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that the fascist government was busy using all coercive and oppressive measures to crush PTI, while the country’s economy is crashing right before our eyes.
In a statement on Saturday, PTI Chairman said that dollar selling at Rs 310 in the open market and there was record backbreaking inflation in the country right now.
PTI Chairman stated: “While our debt is accumulating at the fastest rate ever, the economy is shrinking.”
He went on to say that all our annual tax revenue collections do not even cover the interest that we have to pay on our loans.
“While the country’s economy is crashing right before our eyes, all this fascist government is thinking of, are more coercive and oppressive measures to crush PTI,” Khan added.
PTI Chairman recalled that of course to the PDM leadership this historic devaluation of the rupee did not matter because all their ill-gotten wealth was stashed abroad in dollars.
“It will be the people of Pakistan who will experience inflation and poverty while PDM leaders will be beneficiaries of this fall in rupee,” he added.
