PTI 'mulls seeking JUI-F's help' in forming KP govt after JI's refusal

• PTI, JUI-F have reportedly decided to hold talks on forging alliance.
• PTI has sought JUI-F’s vote for its prime minister’s candidate.
• Leaderships of both parties to meet, finalise talks soon.

Upon the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)’s refusal, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is mulling seeking Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman’s help in forming a coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Geo News reported citing sources.

The sources said the JUI-F had seats in the KP Assembly. Maulana and the PTI are on the same page over reservations regarding elections, the PTI sources said.

They said in the meeting with the JUI-F a day ago, Imran Khan’s message was conveyed to Fazl. On this occasion, the PTI sought the JUI-F’s vote for the prime minister’s candidate Omar Ayub.

JI had on February 14 ruled out the possibility of forging an alliance with the PTI to form a government in the province.

JI's Central Naib Amir Liaqat Baloch, while speaking to Geo News, had said that his party had decided that it would not join hands with the PTI as the latter had formed a coalition with another party at the federal level.

"There is no reason for us to form an alliance with PTI only in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," said Baloch, adding that talks with the PTI were related to both governments — federal and provincial.

Meanwhile, the PTI and JUI-F have reportedly decided to go ahead with talks on forging an alliance. The sources said a committee would be formed for negotiations between the parties. The body would finalise recommendations pertaining to rigging in elections and future course of action, they added.

The sources said the PTI delegation had apprised Fazl about Form 45’s situation across the country. Fazl expressed reservations over the manipulation of PTI’s mandate, they maintained.

“The PTI delegation welcomed Maulana Fazl’s statements and pressers. The PTI delegation and JUI-F agreed to jointly carry out political struggle inside and outside of the parliament,” they said.

They said soon leaderships of both parties would meet and finalise the recommendations.