PESHAWAR: The Jamat-e-Islami (JI) has declined an offer from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to form a coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
In a statement posted on social media, JI’s Central Naib Ameer Liaqat Baloch revealed that following the February 8 elections, PTI approached JI seeking collaboration for government formation.
JI’s leadership promptly deliberated on the matter and formed a committee, led by Liaquat Baloch and comprising KP chief Prof Muhammad Ibrahim and Deputy Amir Inayatullah Khan, to address this issue.
The statement expressed JI’s concerns over electoral irregularities, asserting that tampering with election results is detrimental to the nation and democracy. While JI welcomed victorious PTI-backed candidates, it offered them constitutional and parliamentary support, prioritizing the public mandate during this challenging period for the party.
However, Baloch noted that PTI eventually clarified their interest solely in a coalition for the KP government.
Baloch stated that while JI views a coalition with PTI at the national level as being in the national interest, if PTI’s stance has shifted, they are free to pursue alliances in KP as they see fit.
The political landscape of Pakistan remains uncertain, with none of the major parties—PML-N, PPP, or PTI-backed independents—securing a simple majority in the National Assembly. Efforts are underway among political stakeholders to form alliances and secure the necessary 169 seats in the 336-member lower house of parliament.
PTI-backed independent candidates have maintained their lead over mainstream parties, particularly in the National and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assemblies, during the announcement of election results. As per current results, independent candidates, with PTI support, have won 101 seats. PML-N holds the second position with 75 seats, followed by PPP with 54 seats. Other parties such as MQM-P, JUI-F, PML-Q, IPP, and BNP have also secured seats.
It’s noteworthy that PTI founder Imran Khan dismissed the possibility of forming a coalition government with PPP, PML-N, or MQM-P. Instead, PTI has announced plans to collaborate with Majlis-e-Wahdat-Muslimeen (MWM) to establish governments in the Centre and Punjab, as directed by its founder.
