PTI strikes alliance with SIC to form govt in Centre, Punjab and KP

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced forming an alliance with Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to form governments in the Centre, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

The decision was announced by PTI acting chairman Barrister Gohar Khan in a press conference along with MWM chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and SIC chairperson Sahibzada Hamid Raza at PTI's central secretariat in Islamabad.

The PTI-supported candidates, who won elections on the National and Provincial assemblies seats, will join SIC to get reserved seats for women and minorities. 

“Our candidates have submitted their affidavits with us and with their consent today we are announcing that PTI-supported independents are joining the Sunni Ittehad Council,” Gohar said in a presser.

“[...] There are 70 reserved seats in the National Assembly and there are 227 reserved seats in the entire country. These seats are only provided to political parties. Therefore, to protect our reserved seats and provide cover to our candidates, we have inked an agreement with Sunni Ittehad Council under which all our candidates have joined the party and we will present this documentation before the ECP,” he added.

Speaking with the media, PTI leader Omar Ayub Khan said the alliance with SIC aims to increase his party's strength in the National and Provincial assemblies.

Referring to the election rigging allegation leveled by the former Rawalpindi Commissioner, Ayub said the PTI-backed candidates should be declared “returned candidates”.

"Our first job would be to release Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Parvez Elahi, our women members and all other seniour leaders."