PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan announced that party-backed independent candidates, who emerged victorious in the Centre, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the 2024 general elections, would join the right-wing party Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) as part of their parliamentary strategy.
The formal agreement between the PTI and SIC was submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan today. Barrister Gohar said this move was to protect the party’s reserved seats and provide cover to its members.“There are 70 reserved seats in the National Assembly and there are 227 reserved seats in the entire country,” he said. “These seats are only provided to political parties.
“PTI PM candidate Omar Ayub Khan said the party wanted unity in the country and therefore party-backed candidates decided to join the SIC in the Centre and all provinces.“This is because the quota of reserved seats lies with political parties,” he said. “Coming together with the Sunni Ittehad Council would increase the PTI’s strength in the National Assembly.
“SIC Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza clarified that the alliance with the PTI dates back nearly eight years. He added that the support of Imran Khan and the PTI is unconditional and without any demand.
“I want to make it clear, in black and white, that the policy will be of the PTI and Imran Khan sahib,” Raza said.