PAT announces support for PTI in by-polls in NA-122 & PP-147

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf signed a four-point declaration to form a political alliance. The leaders of both parties have constituted a six member committee with three members from each party to work out a formula for seat adjustment in regard to upcoming local government polls and general elections.

After the agreement, the PAT candidate contesting elections for PP-147 Ishtiaq Chaudhry Advocate withdrew his candidature in favour of PTI candidate Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui. The PAT also announced to take active party in electoral campaign for the PTI candidates Mr. Aleem Khan for NA-122 and Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui for PP-147 and support them wholeheartedly. PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur and PTI leader Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar signed the agreement on behalf of their parties.

Addressing the press conference later on, PTI Chief Organizer Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar thanked PAT for extending support to PTI candidates in NA-122 and PP-147. He said that with the announcement of support by PAT, political power of the PTI has increased tremendously and the defeat of the PML-N candidate has become certain. Ch. Muhammad Sarwar, Aleem Khan, Ijaz Chaudhry, Umar Sarfraz Cheema represented PTI in the dialogue whereas the PAT was represented by Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, GM Malik, Fayyaz Warraich, Ishtiaq Ch Advocate, and Noorullah Siddiqui.

According to the written agreement, both parties will accelerate their struggle to demand justice for the martyrs of Model Town. They will play the role of an effective opposition for protection of people’s democratic, constitutional and political rights. They also agreed to play their national role together for across the board accountability, and elimination of terrorism and extremism.

PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur strongly criticized attack on the caravan of Ch. Muhammad Sarwar and throwing of stones on the workers in which a number of them got injured. He said that hooliganism is the real politics of the PML-N. He said that these people have the habit of using police as private militia. He said that alliance with the PTI represents the beginning of a grand protest movement against the corrupt system. He said that the ruling party will face massive defeat. He announced that the PAT will run an active and effective electoral campaign in favour of the PTI candidates in NA-122 and PP-147.

The PAT Secretary General said that the government has failed on all fronts and its staying in power any longer is destructive for democracy. PTI leaders Aleem Khan, Umar Sarfraz Cheema and Ijaz Ch thanked the PAT for announcing support for PTI and said that the agreement reached with them will be respected. They said that both parties led an exemplary struggle against corrupt and oppressive system.