• Qaiser hopes of succeeding in national agenda.
• Claims PTI robbed of seats in Peshawar in elections.
• Talal says defends cabinet expansion; Khattak’s appointment.

Former National Assembly speaker and senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser said on Friday that a delegation of the party will meet Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) by next week, as the former ruling party continues to woo would-be allies for an anti-government movement post-Eid.

“We are chalking out a national agenda and will include all parties in it… we will soon succeed in it,” Qaiser said while speaking on Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan’.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Imran Khan-founded party expedited efforts to form a grand opposition alliance to launch an anti-government movement after Eid ul Fitr following the incarcerated party founder’s directives.

Incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan had asked his party leaders to approach every political party to form a grand opposition alliance and launch an anti-government movement after Eid ul Fitr.

In April last year, the PTI had already formed the Tehreek-i-Tahaffuz-i-Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), a multi-party opposition alliance comprising the SIC, PkMAP, Balochistan National Party-Mengal, Jamaat-i-Islami, and Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen.

After talks between the government and the opposition collapsed in January, the PTI made another push to establish a joint front against the ruling coalition by roping in ex-premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi earlier this month to become part of its movement.

Last month, TTAP leaders also held their two-day conference, which held the “rigged” February 8, 2024 general elections responsible for the ongoing economic, political and social crises facing the country.

The opposition’s moot demanded to abolish all amendments that contradict the spirit of the Constitution. The conference called the “rampant violation of constitutional and human rights” a complete negation of the rule of law in the country.

Speaking during today’s programme, Qaiser said that they want to meet the incarcerated PTI founder to further discuss the course of action.

Reiterating the party’s claims of “rigged” general elections, the former NA speaker alleged that they were robbed of seats in Peshawar, stressing the need for a constitutional audit.

Separately, PML-N Senator Talal Chaudhry — speaking in today’s programme — defended the appointment of former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Pervez Khattak as an adviser on interior affairs.

“It’s a coalition government…everyone wants like-minded quarters to work together,” he said, noting that experienced individuals are also included as technocrats. He noted that the cabinet expansion was not carried out to “reward anyone, but as per need”.

Responding to a question, Chaudhry said that Privatisation Minister Aleem Khan left other portfolios after consultation.

“One does not have to be a scientist to become the Minister of Science and Technology,” he said in response to another question.  

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assigned portfolios to 26 newly inducted ministers, state ministers and advisers in his federal cabinet. 

Besides allotting portfolios to four new special assistants, the premier also reassigned the ministries of some of the cabinet members.

According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division today, federal minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has been given the portfolio of Parliamentary Affairs, while Ali Pervaiz Malik and Shaza Fatima Khawaja made the federal ministers of Petroleum and Information Technology, respectively.

Similarly, state ministers Barrister Aqeel Malik, Bilal Azhar Kayani and Talal Chaudhry have been given portfolios of Law & Justice, Railways and Interior & Narcotics Control, respectively.

In addition to this, two more advisers — Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah and Muhammad Ali — were also added to the cabinet, increasing the number of advisers to the prime minister to seven.

‘Influential figure’

Meanwhile, PM’s aide on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sanaullah also echoed Talat’s sentiments, saying that Khattak is a “powerful and influential figure” in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and can play a role in countering KP government’s march on Islamabad.

Speaking on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, he noted that the KP government, led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, was always ready to attack Islamabad instead of focusing on developing the province.

“Words are making rounds that PTI is preparing another such raid on Islamabad after Eid,” he said, referring to the PTI founder’s plan to launch an anti-government drive.

In this regard, he said, he believes Khattak can play an effective role in KP.

In response to a question, he noted they never claimed it was PML-N’s government but a coalition.