PTI-P claims it will rope in key politicians from Punjab, Sindh

PESHAWAR: The core committee of the newly-formed Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-Parliamentarians on Tuesday appointed former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Pervez Khattak the party’s chairman and another former chief minister, Mahmood Khan, its vice-chairman.

The committee also made Ziaullah Bangash the party’s information secretary during a meeting held here.

Mr Bangash told Dawn that it was the second meeting of the core committee in which “vital” decisions were made.

He said that the committee, which comprised former ministers, MNAs and MPAs, decided that the party would begin the election campaign from its chairman’s native district Nowshera by holding a large public meeting.

The PTI-P information secretary said that several key politicians from Punjab and Sindh provinces would be appointed to the other party positions as it was a national party.

Appoints Khattak its chief, Mahmood his deputy

“These politicians are in contact with our chairman and will join us soon,” he said.

Mr Bangash said that the party was going to establish its central offices in Islamabad.

He said that the core committee also decided that public meetings would be held in the Peshawar, Mansehra, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Kohistan, Hangu, Mardan, Buner and Abbottabad districts.

The PTI-P’s core committee also approved a plan for holding public gatherings in other districts of the province.

It also discussed the party’s manifesto, goals and objectives and decided to hold threadbare discussions on them.

The core committee unanimously approved “peace, progress and prosperity” as the party’s slogan.

Earlier, PTI-P vice-chairman Mahmood Khan told the core committee that the party called for peace and development in the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Mr Khattak told participants that the PTI-P would field candidates in all constituencies during the upcoming general elections and would carry out an extensive election campaign across the country.

“The doors of our party are open to all leaders and workers of other parties. They can join us,” he said.

The PTI-P leader said that his party could go for electoral alliance with other political parties.

“We will launch a mass contact campaign from Nowshera by organising the maiden public rally on August 19 as part of preparations for next elections,” he said.

Mr Khattak said that the party’s aim was to work for peace, progress and prosperity in the country, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“To achieve these goals, we will work together with state institutions instead of opting for confrontation with them. Efforts will be made to strengthen state institutions,” he said.

The PTI-P chairman said that he had served the people of the province in the past and had several schemes of public interest to his credit as the provincial chief minister.

“Under the banner of the PTI-P, we all will continue serving the people of this province and other parts of the county with more zeal and enthusiasm,” he said.