Imran Khan nominates Ali Amin Gandapur as KP chief minister

PTI founder chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan has nominated former federal minister Ali Amin Gandapur as his party's candidate for the slot of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Talking informally to media men insida Adiala Jail on Tuesday, incarcerated Imran Khan declared “KP's chief minister will be Ali Amin Gandapur."

With 84 KP seats in his pocket, Imran Khan also trashed possibility of any cooperation with PML-N, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

The PTI founder, however, said that he had directed his party leaders to hold talks with other parties except these three. "Those who have been brought up again are the biggest money-launderers," he added. 

He said he held a meeting with PTI Information Secretary Rauf Hassan and asked him to bring together like-minded parties.

ایسی دھاندلی ملکی تاریخ میں کبھی نہیں ہوئی،نواز شریف کی پریس کانفرنس ملتوی کرنے پر ہم جان گئے تھے کہ الیکشن جیت گئے ہیں، نواز شریف اور مریم نواز دونوں الیکشن ہارے ہیں، عمران خان۔۔ #عوام_کو_اپنا_حق_دو pic.twitter.com/9tFifhtEc4

— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 13, 2024

Responding to a question, the PTI founder said “Rigging allegations in elections will worsen instability in the country. Rigging-marred elections to impact economy badly.”

To another query, Imran Khan said way is again being paved for money-laundering syndicate to come to power. “Sharif family are the country’s biggest money-launderers. Country’s main problem is foreign exchange reserves and the Sharifs send dollars abroad,” he added.

He said “Free and fair elections were the only solution of the country’s problems. Now you people have realized that why we were against conducting elections under returning officers.”

Imran Khan has said that he had not met any high-ranking official in the prison recently.

To another question, he said the PTI has not yet agreed on the name of a prime minister. “I will think about it,” he added.

PHC grants bail to Gandapur in 24 cases

Peshawar High Court (PHC) DI Khan bench has granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Amin Gandapur in 24 cases.

Bail was granted till March 9 in six cases registered in DI Khan and 12 cases, registered in Rawalpindi.

The court on Tuesday also granted bail in cases registered in Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Wah Cantt and in Taxila.

However, the court directed him to join the investigations in such cases.

Ready to sit in the opposition in NA: Khosa

PTI leader and newly-elected independent MNA Latif Khosa has said “If they win support of another 50 members they will stake claim at the Centre. Otherwise, we will sit in the opposition.”

Speaking to the media in Islamabad on Tuesday, Latif Khosa said that the election results were “correct” up till the issuance of the Form 45. “According to the Form 45, 170 of our people are winning. They are not independent because PTI exists as a legal and constitutional party. Calling us independent is wrong and illegal,” he added.

Khosa said if reserved seats were added to this number, then the PTI would cross the 200 mark in the National Assembly. “The largest political party which emerges in the election is given the right to form the government,” he further added.

The PTI leader expressed astonishment at reports of a power-sharing formula between the PML-N and the PPP. “What joke is being done with democracy? Who are they — who have been rejected by the people — to divide among themselves. No Assembly or Parliament can function without Imran Khan. No democracy can function and no government can be formed without Imran Khan. So rid yourself of the misunderstanding that by ignoring Imran they will be able to operate a democracy or the government. You will have to bring Imran Khan back.

“And because ours is the largest political party, he will be the prime minister. And no one can stop him,” he said.

Latif Khosa lamented the alleged rigging in the February 8 general elections that “stole seats” from PTI. “This pattern we’re seeing of discrepancies in Form 45 and 47 is a joke. Form 45 results should be announced,” he said.

“I credit Khawaja Saad Rafique for showing grace and accepting his defeat,” he said and added “If Nawaz Sharif has lost to Yasmin Rashid, he should accept that.”

Reporters Ehtesham Kiyani and Amir Shahzad