On Wednesday, Sher Afzal Marwat, a prominent figure in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, asserted that he had been contacted by Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the previous night. Addressing reporters in Islamabad, Marwat disclosed that Zardari reached out to him around 11 p.m. through intermediaries.
According to Marwat, Zardari conveyed that the PTI was their preferred choice for forming the government at the center, rather than the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Marwat promptly informed the leadership of his party about this communication with the PPP.
Marwat indicated his intention to relay the details of these political engagements to the PTI founder the following day. This revelation comes in the wake of the PPP’s decision to extend support to the PML-N in the formation of the central government. Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto has assembled a six-member committee tasked with liaising with various political entities.
PPP denies these claims
Contrary to Marwat’s account, the PPP denied any direct communication between Zardari and him. The party’s spokesperson clarified that Zardari’s discussions revolved around potentially allowing independent candidates backed by the PTI to lead the government. However, Zardari had previously announced his party’s support for the PML-N’s candidate for the Prime Ministerial position.
The official statement from the PPP emphasized that Zardari engages in serious dialogues with members of political parties, cautioning against taking Marwat’s statement at face value. In addition to these political maneuvers, Marwat expressed concerns about alleged electoral irregularities, particularly in Karachi, where the PTI purportedly secured victories in all 17 contested constituencies.
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Marwat criticized the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for failing to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process, alleging that this compromised the integrity of Pakistan. He questioned how Nawaz Sharif, the leader of PML-N, could claim victory when his party only won five constituencies nationwide. Marwat underscored PTI’s commitment to challenging electoral malpractices and maintaining the integrity of the democratic process, highlighting the importance of fair elections in fostering public trust.