In the realm of political maneuvering, incarcerated former premier Imran Khan’s political entity, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, asserted on the present day that the triumphant independent contenders, endorsed by the party in the elections held on February 8, are poised to align themselves with the Sunni Ittehad Council.
This Council, a confluence of Islamic political and religious factions within the predominantly Muslim nation, represents adherents of the Sunni Islamic doctrine. “Our nominees within the National Assembly, as well as the assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are slated to affiliate with the esteemed Sunni Ittehad Council,” declared the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Barrister Gohar Khan.
Despite the independent candidates, bolstered by the party, securing the lion’s share of parliamentary seats, the political stalwarts of Pakistan, namely the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), have proclaimed their intention to forge a collaborative administration post the hung Parliament scenario ensuing from the elections on February 8. Notably, the victorious independent contenders are mandated to align themselves with a political faction within three days of the result notification.
The potential post-election coalition between PML-N and PPP raises the specter of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf being marginalized in the formation of the upcoming federal government. This has prompted Imran Khan’s political faction to level accusations, asserting that the rival entities are conniving to usurp the popular mandate, with alleged support from influential quarters. The beleaguered party, gaining momentum, saw a significant upswing when a high-ranking governmental official overseeing the electoral process in Rawalpindi, a garrison city, claimed malfeasance and embroiled the Chief Election Commissioner and Chief Justice in the controversy.
Fueled by claims of electoral irregularities, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, on the subsequent day, called for a judicial investigation into the manipulation of election results. A majority of independent candidates, aligned with the erstwhile Prime Minister Imran Khan’s PTI faction, secured 93 seats in the National Assembly. PML-N clinched 75 seats, while PPP secured the third position with 54 seats. Additionally, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) has pledged its support, bringing 17 seats to the coalition. The prerequisite to form a government mandates a party to secure 133 seats out of the 265 contested seats in the 266-member National Assembly.
