Pervez Khattak becomes chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians n Ex-CM Mahmood Khan among 57 former members of KP assembly who show up in first meeting at a hotel n All leaders hold PTI Chairman Imran Khan responsible for May 9 riots: PTI-P n PTI KP spokesman Barrister Saif says Khattak will face defeat in coming elections.
PESHAWAR - Once the close aide of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, former KP chief minister Pervez Khattak Monday launched a new political party under the name of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTI-P), claiming the support of 57 former assembly members and senior politicians mostly belonging to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Pervez Khattak announced the new party name after holding an important meeting with his close aides at a hotel here where around 57 ex-assembly members joined PTI Parliamentarians and expressed confidence in Pervez Khattak leadership. Prominent among those 57 ex-assembly members and politicians that joined the party included former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Mahmood Khan, ex- MNA Shaukat Ali and former environment minister Syed Muhammad Ishtiaq Urmar.
With the establishment of PTI Parliamentarians, political observers said that PTI was now completely finished in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Pervez Khattak had served as PTI's KP President, central secretary general and chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the PTI government and later quit the post of PTI KP president after condemning the May 9 vandalism. Khattak announced the new party after he was expelled from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) last week and the move was considered a big political setback for the PTI chief, especially, in KP where his party ruled for nine years. While speaking to reporters on this occasion, Pervez Khattak said that they condemned the May 9 violent protests of PTI activists and that they favoured the country’s sovereignty. “We will announce its (party’s) manifesto and the colour of its flag soon,” he added. Khattak went on to say that “our decision will be in the country’s interest.” Sitting alongside Mahmood Khan, he said both of them had served the province as chief ministers, of which he gave several examples. “We introduced the Sahulat Sehat Card in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, we built the Swat Motorway and established Peshawar BRT, we promoted tourism in the province … and introduced the Billion Tree Tsunami programme.” He also urged the people to ponder on the reasons behind the PTI “wasting opportunities in elections three to four times”. “Do we adopt the path of democracy or chaos? … What were the reasons that the PTI did not accept the elections? … This is a democratic country and elections should be held here. “People of this country should think over why the PTI wasted election opportunities. This is a big secret and the day it comes out, everyone will know what was the PTI’s programme was,” he said. According to a handout issued by the party, Khattak is the new party’s chief. “Formation of new party came due to differences and conflict within the PTI on May 9 tragedy,” the handout reads, adding that all political leaders joining the PTI-P held PTI Chairman Imran Khan responsible for the May 9 riots. “Imran Khan’s anti-national agenda was not only rejected by the public but the party’s own leadership. These patriotic politicians parted ways with the PTI over May 9’s events,” it further said. Meanwhile, PTI KP spokesman Barrister Saif said that Khattak announced new party in order to save his politics but that he would face defeat in the coming elections. The PTI spokesman added that Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party had already faced cold-shoulder response from people and now Khattak’s party would also meet the same fate.