Qureshi claims support of over 180 members in Punjab

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi Wednesday claimed that the PTI could get over 180 votes for the slot of Chief Minister in Punjab.

Talking to media after PTI’s Punjab Parliamentary Party meeting he said, around 149 votes in all were required to form government in Punjab.

The PTI had already gained support of 164 members for the chief minister slot, he said and expressed the hope that the PTI's figure would cross 180. At least 164 elected Punjab MPAs attended the party’s meeting Shah Mehmood said.

He said PTI had emerged as the most popular party at the national and Punjab levels in the general election 2018.

Shah Mehmood said status quo in Punjab had been changed as old parties including PPP, PML-N had lost their grip on power in the province.

He said people had completely rejected Pakistan Peoples Party in Punjab as the party could only secure six seats each for national and Punjab assemblies. “The people of Punjab have proved that they wanted a change and the PPP and PML-N were rejected by the voters”, he added.

He said PTI Chairman Imran Khan met the newly elected members of Punjab Assembly and discussed with them the current challenges. He informed the new members that 2018 election was as unique as 1937 and 1970 elections were in their times.

Shah Mehmood said people had expressed full confidence in the manifesto and policies of PTI and rejected the politics of nepotism, corruption and bad governance.

He said the past government had left huge national debt, and trade and fiscal deficit for the new government. It was dire need of hour to again show the spirit shown during Pakistan’s independence movement, he added.

Reacting to the opposition parties protest, he said the opposition had the right to protest, but they should adopt legal path for it. The PTI had taken to the streets after an year to register their protest, he added.

He said over 30 constituencies had been opened so far but no irregularity surfaced. He said that the PTI government would have to face many serious challenges and they could not claim that they would fix everything in 100 days.

Shah Mehmood said the party chairman would announce the name of chief minister after consultation. He said, “The whole party will support the individual nominated by Imran Khan as Punjab chief minister. “Imran Khan has told all the elected MNAs and MPAs to focus on ideological politics,” he added.