[🇵🇰] PTI News, Updates and Discussion

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Pakistan’s youth deliver stinging rebuke to military elite by backing jailed leader Khan​

Analysis by Sophia Saifi and Rhea Mogul, CNN

Mon February 12, 2024

His political party is effectively banned, his speeches are barred from television, and he faces at least 14 years in prison. But as the Pakistan election results show, Imran Khan cannot be suppressed.

Independent candidates affiliated with the former prime minister’s Pakistan Tehereek-e-Insaf (PTI) party secured the most parliamentary seats in last week’s nationwide election, the election commission announced Sunday.

It is a stunning victory for an incarcerated Khan who, two years ago faced a dramatic ouster as prime minister and most recently faced a military-led crackdown analysts say was designed to thwart the cricket icon’s return to power.

“You kept my trust, and your massive turnout has stunned everyone,” an AI-generated video of Khan shared by the PTI that mimicked his voice, said to his millions of followers shortly after his victory. “Now show the strength of protecting your vote.” Khan’s team has previously used AI to deliver his speeches from behind bars.

 

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Imran says open to talks, except with PPP or ‘N’​

Malik Asad February 14, 2024

• PTI founder says will approach Supreme Court against ‘rigged’ polls; thanks supporters for ‘two-thirds’ majority
• Names Gandapur for KP CM, yet to decide on PM slot

ISLAMABAD: As his opponents cobble up a coalition to rule for the next five years, PTI founder Imran Khan on Tuesday revealed that the former ruling party was willing to talk to all political parties except for the PPP, PML-N and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM-P).

The remarks by the former premier came at a time when his rivals — despite failing to secure a majority in the lower house of parliament — have decided to enter an alliance, likely to be led by the PML-N, with the help of erstwhile Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) partners. Mr Khan appeared before a judge in cases registered against him in connection with the violence on May 9.

Speaking to reporters at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, Imran Khan revealed that the PTI information secretary had been tasked to approach the political parties, except for the ones mentioned above, to initiate a dialogue.

In response to a question about whether the PTI would form the federal government, Imran Khan said that his party’s priority was to challenge the results of the polls in the Supreme Court. He said he had never witnessed such a rigged election and urged all political parties, calling out rigging, to form a joint front.

 

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Imran picks Omar Ayub as PTI’s candidate for prime minister, Mian Aslam Iqbal as Punjab CM​

Dawn.com
February 15, 2024

The combo photo shows PTI leaders Omer Ayub Khan (L) and Mian Aslam Iqbal (R).

 

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PTI-backed MNA-elect Shahram Khan Tarakai comes out of hiding in KP, reaches home​

Shahram, the health minister in the last PTI government in KP, had gone into hiding after May 9.

 

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PTI leaders to meet Fazl for govt formation​

Feb 15, 2024
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to initiate discussions with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) party in a bid to form a coalition government.

According to sources within PTI, a five-member delegation led by party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali is scheduled to meet Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of JUI-F, later tonight.

Among the delegation, PTI leaders Asad Qaiser, Barrister Saif, and Akhundzada Hussain will accompany Barrister Gohar.

According to media reports, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has confirmed the development.

 

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PTI calls for countrywide protests on Saturday against ‘poll rigging’​

• Party nominates Mian Aslam Iqbal for Punjab CM's slot

 

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No political revenge upon returning to power: Imran​

Feb 16, 2024
Former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan declared on Friday that his party will adopt a "Fatah-e-Makkah" approach upon returning to power, vowing not to seek political vengeance.

"We will not take any political revenge, but we will take the country and the nation forward for the sake of the development of the country and the nation," he stated, as conveyed by PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan following a 30-minute long meeting with Imran Khan at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.

 

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PTI ready to talk to establishment: Raoof Hasan​

Updated Feb 16, 2024
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Raoof Hasan affirmed the party's readiness for dialogue with the establishment, emphasising that the purpose of contacting political parties is not to form an electoral alliance but to bring all political forces together on a unified platform.

Speaking on the Express News programme 'Center Stage' on Friday, Hasan highlighted that PTI's founder, Imran Khan, has consistently advocated for engaging with all political parties. He emphasised that if political parties engage in positive politics, there is no harm in holding meetings and fostering collaboration.

"The purpose of contacting political parties is not at all electoral alliance; our aim is that all political parties come together on one platform," stated Hasan during the programme.

 

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PTI leader and senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja was arrested on Saturday in Lahore as the party protested alleged rigging in the February 8 elections.

Surrounded by security personnel and media persons, Raja said he stood "with the people of Pakistan" as the police dragged him towards their vehicle.

Later in the day, Raja, taking to X, said that he has been released.

On February 15, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar announced the initiation of nationwide protest demonstrations for Saturday (today) against perceived rigging in the general election.

He invited all political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, Grand Democratic Alliance, Awami National Party, and others, who believe their mandate was stolen, to join the protest for democracy, rule of law, and freedom.

PTI, JI unite against poll rigging

Last night, in a significant development, a delegation from the PTI met with leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, where both parties expressed their concerns over the alleged rigging in the recent general elections and announced a joint protest against the perceived irregularities.

PTI leader and former speaker of the National Assembly, Asad Qaiser, addressed the media after the meeting, stating that the two parties had a one-point agenda at this time – to protest against what they termed as "rigged" elections.

Read PTI asserts majority, urges respect for public mandate

Qaiser emphasised that the level of rigging alleged in this election is unprecedented, prompting the need for collective action among parties that have raised their voices against it.

 

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Protests in Karachi, Peshawar

In Karachi, hundreds of PTI workers and supporters gathered outside the Election Commission of Pakistan’s Sindh office in the city’s Saddar area.

The protesters chanted slogans against the alleged rigging and demanded the judiciary and state institutions to intervene and fix the “flaws” in the results.

The charged crowd, including women and children, carried party flags and danced to the tunes of party songs.

They claimed that the mandate of Karachi was “stolen” on Feb 8 and that it could lead to “disastrous repercussions”, like damaging the democracy and affecting the parliamentary system.

The party’s Sindh chapter president, Haleem Adil Sheikh, and other senior leaders addressed the demonstration and vowed to keep raising their voices against the “rigged” elections“.

Any move to harass PTI leaders and supporters will not stop them from exercising their democratic right to protest, the speakers vowed.

In Peshawar and other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI workers, including the newly elected lawmakers, staged rallies.

The rally in the provincial capital was addressed by PTI provincial president and chief minister-designate Ali Amin Gandapur and other leaders.

In his speech, Mr Gandapur said his party would not seek revenge but would reform institutions responsible for the “political witch-hunt” of his party workers and leaders.

“Reforms are necessary for the bright future of our children,” Mr Gandapur said, without specifying which institutions he aims to reform.

Amid cheers from the protesters, the PTI leader said those who resisted reforms would be punished as per law.

Holding a portrait of the PTI’s founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, he said that the party’s next government in KP would ensure rights for women and vowed to revive the Sehat Card health insurance programme.

 

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PTI's Omar Ayub calls irregularities in polls 'mother of all rigging'​

Updated Feb 18, 16:51
PTI's candidate for the post of prime minister, Omar Ayub, termed the alleged rigging against the party “mother of all rigging“ and claimed that the 70,000 vote lead the Rawalpindi commissioner referred to was of PTI.

Addressing a press conference alongside party chairman Gohar Ali Khan, Ayub demanded that the party's candidate be notified on the "original results". "We demand that this process be reversed.