LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has offered public support to prime minister in waiting Nawaz Sharif to stop drone attacks either through negotiations with the US or by force.

“The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) should fulfill its responsibility and begin its tenure from this point,” PTI Punjab President Ejaz Chaudhry quoted Mr Khan as saying at a press conference at a local hotel on Thursday.

He quoted Mr Khan as saying that the people of Pakistan had voted against the previous government and Gen Musharraf’s policy regarding drone attacks and it was a matter of grave concern that still a drone strike was made on Wednesday and “innocent” people were killed. Mr Khan said people of Pakistan did not tolerate drone attacks in Pakistan.

Targeting Mr Sharif for his statement that he could not give deadline to resolve the power crisis in the country, the PTI Punjab president said, “Pakistanis cannot afford to listen from their leader that he cannot give a deadline to overcome power crisis.”

Mr Chaudhry said central and provincial governments, including PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, must give clear deadline for the resolution of power crisis. “The PTI will not show any reluctance in holding governments accountable if they fail to ensure power supply to the masses,” he said.

Mr Chaudhry said the PTI would request party’s government in the KP to announce local body elections in 90 days and as soon as a date would be announce, the party would demand that the Punjab government also announce local body elections within stipulated time frame.

The Punjab president said the PTI had also decided to hold accountability within the party with regard to rigging and party failure in the May 11 elections and all stakeholders, who remained loyal to the party, would be invited to give their input. He said party’s performance in May 11 elections would be reviewed in four stages from June 8 to 23. The party will review two districts on daily basis.

Mr Chaudhry said the PTI’s parliamentary party meeting had been called on Friday (today) to make final decisions with regard to by-elections in Punjab. He said the PTI would only join hands with the PML-Q to form opposition group in the Punjab Assembly.

He also warned that the federal government would be held responsible if former President Gen Musharraf was given “safe passage”.

Also, US-returned businessman Shahzaid Malik, former MQM office-bearer Azam Daniyal, Irshadul Haq Chaudhry, Mian Aqeel, Muhammad Arif, Masood Ahmad Saeed, Ana Tahir and Shaista Chaudhry announced joining the party.

SHEIKH RASHEED: Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed on Thursday visited PTI chief Imran Khan at his residence in Lahore and discussed political issues regarding the National Assembly.

Later, outside Khan’s residence, Mr Rasheed said Pakistan’s image had been tarnished at international level due to massive rigging in the May 11 general elections. Referring to hue and cry about rigging in general elections, he said, Mr Khan had called it a “Returning Officers” election.

He said his party would support the PTI in National Assembly and poll its vote for party’s premiership candidate Javed Hashmi. He said the AML would also contact other parties to join hands with PTI and form a grand opposition. He said Mr Khan would retain NA-56 seat.

He said the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline was facing delay, while Neelum-Jhelum project was taking time to end loadshedding. He said Chashma Hydro Project with the collaboration of China could help generate Kalabagh dam-like electricity.

He said that there were rumours that Saudi Arabia would be giving $15 billion and added that he feared that Saudi Arabia might deport 30,000 Pakistanis.