MNA-elect from Kohistan to support ruling party

MANSEHRA: The independent MNA-elect from Kohistan Muhammad Idrees on Sunday announced to support the federal government formed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or any other political party in the larger public interest.

“I have closely observed the situation unfolding following the February 8 general elections in the country and decided to support the government formed by any political party maintaining my independent position unscathed,” he told reporters.

Muhammad Idrees had contested the National Assembly’s election from NA-12 as an independent aspirant.

“After consulting people of my constituency, I have decided to keep my independent position intact. And I will extend my support to the federal government formed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or any other political party in the larger public interest,” he said.

Muhammad Idrees was elected as Dasu tehsil chairman in the local government election on the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf ticket. However, he had tendered his resignation to contest the February 8 general election as an independent candidate after the PTI awarded the ticket to Taj Muhammad.

“I will rejoin the PTI if it forms the government in the centre,” he added.

The MNA-elect said he wanted to put the Kohistan region on the path to prosperity and development as that was why he wanted to keep all his options open.

The regional alliances-backed independents Fazl Haq and Sardar Riaz, who had won two of three KP’s constituencies - PK-31 and PK-33 in Kohistan region- joined independents backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.

The Kohistan region’s only provincial assembly seat PK-32 was won by the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F aspirant Maulana Sajadullah.