Former lawmaker of ANP joins PTI

PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) former Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Aurangzeb Khan on Monday announced joining the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at the Chief Minister’s House in the presence of his family members and supporters.

In his brief remarks, Aurangzeb Khan, whose brother Alamzeb Khan was killed in a bomb blast, recalled the services of his family for the ANP. He vowed to render sacrifices for PTI which he said was the only party that had worked for the welfare and development of the people.

Welcoming Aurangzeb in the PTI, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak hoped that the PTI would form the next government in the province after polls victory. He said that his political opponents should wait for the upcoming general election in which the people would vote for the PTI on the basis of its performance.

The supporters of Aurangzeb Khan and PTI leaders, including ministers, MPAs, nazims and councillors were present. Amid slogans, the chief minister enumerated the performance of the PTI-led government.

Criticising the leaders of ANP, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pervez Khattak said the people from various walks of life were joining the PTI as his government had honoured its pledges.

He said the people should compare performance of PTI with the previous governments, which, he claimed, did nothing for the people. The chief minister believed PTI Chairman Imran Khan was the only and last hope for Pakistan. He said an honest leader like Imran Khan could pull the country out of the existing crisis and put the country on the path to development.

The chief minister hoped the PTI would emerge victorious in the election with the support of the youth. “PTI is the party of the youth and no party can face them,” he said. Pervez Khattak added: “The people should ask the MMA leaders as to what they had done for the implementation of the Islamic system. I will tender an apology if the MMA leaders could point out a single piece of legislation they introduced for the enforcement of Islamic Sharia.”

The chief minister recalled that the situation was different when the MMA was formed, but now it had changed. He said that the PTI made legislation and announced facilities for the Ulema as well as for minorities.

When reminded that opposition parties had submitted no-confidence motion against him, the chief minister said that he had been assured by the joint opposition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly that they could not move any such motion against him. “These are a few people, who have made hue and cry in the media only for furthering personal interests,” he said. The chief minister dispelled the impression that the PTI had assured the newcomers to allot them party’s tickets, saying that his party had neither put any condition nor had made any commitment with anyone before including them in party. He said the parliamentary board would decide about the future party tickets and that would be acceptable to all.

Regarding caretaker government, he said that Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) had given their names while the joint opposition would do so after completing consultation. “We have not finalised any name,” was his quick response when asked about his choice.

To a question about the sacking of the chief executive officer of (CEO) of the much-talked about Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), the chief minister said that the CEO had failed to meet the project deadline.