ISLAMABAD: Prime minister-in-waiting Imran Khan during a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost on Saturday offered mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia to resolve differences between the two countries.

The ambassador, who called on Mr Khan at Banigala, conveyed the Iranian president’s message to Mr Khan on his electoral success in the parliamentary elections held on July 25.

Welcoming the mediation offer, the Iranian envoy termed the situation in the region sensitive and said: “Iran will welcome any proposal from Pakistan aimed at bringing peace in the region.”

Mr Khan thanked the ambassador for the congratulatory message from the Iranian president and described the neighbouring country as a trusted friend of Pakistan.

Fawad claims PTI in comfortable position to form govt; BNP-M assured its demands will be met

Praising Iran for steadfastly standing for its sovereignty without succumbing to external pressures, the PM-in-waiting vowed to reinvigorate bilateral relations and said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) attached special significance to them.

He added: “Pakistan would like to play a positive and effective role between Iran and Saudi Arabia.”

The PTI chief expressed his desire to visit Iran and historical sites there. He also desired to maintain trade relations with all its neighbours, including Iran, to strengthen Pakistan’s economy.

Mr Honardoost shared Iranian president’s desire of mutual cooperation for the greater cause of mutual success, development and prosperity of the people.

The ambassador said vast opportunities of Pakistan-Iran trade existed and highlighted the need to enhance volume of trade by expanding bilateral relations. He hoped that Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline could change the fate of both countries. “Iran is ready to start constructive negotiations on the project with the PTI government,” he added.

PTI leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Shireen Mazari and Naeem-ul-Haq also attended the meeting.

Two more join PTI

Mr Khan spent another busy day meeting independent candidates and political party representatives for the formation of a new government.

Some more independent candidates who won National Assembly (NA) seats joined the PTI at Banigala. Independent MNAs-elect from Vehari Tahir Iqbal and from Multan Rana Qasim joined the PTI on Saturday.

Meanwhile, PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry claimed to have secured 177 seats of the NA including 140 its own seats and remaining seats of its allies. “We have crossed the figure of 177 in NA and are now in a comfortable to form our government at the Centre as well as in Punjab,” he said in a press talk.

Regarding the nomination of chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the PTI has secured a simple majority, he said Mr Khan would announce the names after Aug 11 when Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would issue its final notification regarding the July 25 general election.

BNP demands

PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi held a meeting with Jehanzeb Jamaldini, a leader of Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), and assured the Baloch leader that the PTI was ready to meet all demands of the BNP aimed at betterment of Balochistan. Mr Qureshi claimed that the PTI was the only party that could solve the problems of Balochistan and meet the demands of the BNP-M. In return, he said, the PTI sought BNP-M’s support in formation its government at the Center.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2018