ISALAMABAD - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has rejected Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri’s proposal of merging their anti-government sit-ins, The Nation has learnt.
Reliable sources in PAT informed this scribe that Dr Qadri telephoned Imran few days before Eidul Azha and not only offered him arranging a joint sit-in at the D-Chowk but also but also proposed forging a grand alliance against government for getting fulfilled their demands, especially that of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ‘s resignation.
The two parties have been holding separate sit-ins for last 50 days. Sources said Dr Qadri also told PTI chairman that if he accepted his offer then PAT would prolong its sit-in as per his wish. They said PAT chief, who is sick these days, also wanted Imran to come to his container for inquiring after him.
Imran Khan reportedly appreciated Qadri’s proposal and said that he would discuss it with his party leadership and inform him about the party decision. After few hours the PTI chief told Dr Qadri that his party has rejected the proposal and he urged PAT chief for continuing their protest separately.
PTI sources confirmed this information and said that PTI leadership advised Imran Khan to focus on their own protest campaign and told him that forming alliance with PAT would harm PTI’s credibility and give golden chance to other parties to criticise them.
It was after PTI’s rejecting his offer that Dr Qadri, following PTI’s lead, announced public gatherings in different cities of country and hold first procession of the serious in Faisalabad, source added.