Barrister Gohar Ali says, PTI-backed independents to join Sunni Ittehad Council

PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan declared that party-backed independent candidates would join right-wing party Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) as part of their parliamentary strategy. The Dawn reported. 

On Monday Gohar faced the media in Islamabad alongside party leaders Raoof Hasan, PTI PM candidate Omar Ayub Khan, SIC Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza and Majlis Wahadat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) Secretary General Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.

"Our candidates have submitted their affidavits with us and with their consent today we are announcing that PTI-supported independents are joining the Sunni Ittehad Council," Barrister Gohar said.

PTI-backed candidates emerged victorious in the Centre, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the 2024 general elections despite unprecedented suppression on it's leaders and supporters. 

Gohar Ali made it clear that the party reached a "formal agreement" with the SIC, and it would be submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

"There are 70 reserved seats in the National Assembly and there are 227 reserved seats in the entire country. These seats are only provided to political parties", he said. 

"Therefore, to protect our reserved seats and provide the cover to our members, we have reached a formal agreement under which all our candidates have joined the party and we will present this documentation before the ECP," he said.

Gohar Ali said a request would also be filed in the ECP regarding the allocation of reserved seats as per the party strength and law.

"We claim that the PTI has won 180 National Assembly seats," he said, adding that all the independent candidates contested the polls on PTI tickets and were supported by the party.

"Thankfully, they have won in a big number in all provinces […] of these only three have been notified yet," Barrister Gohar said.

PTI-JUI-P alliance

Meanwhile, the PTI and the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Pakistan (JUI-P) also built an alliance. 

"I am indebted to PTI for taking JUI-P into confidence in the current scenario and opting for an alliance for the way forward," a JUI-P leader announced at a press conference.

Barrister Gohar said both parties had affirmed to continue contacts. "We all agree that this country is ours, democracy should continue moving forward […] and we will take a step forward to improve the economy."

He said that both the parties agreed to continue the struggle against alleged rigging in the Feb 8 polls