SWABI: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf will not enter into alliance with any political party for the Feb 8 general elections, said central leader of the former ruling party Asad Qaiser on Thursday.

“We [PTI] will neither make an electoral alliance nor will we go for seat adjustments,” Mr Qaiser told Dawn here.

The PTI leader – a former National Assembly speaker – was released from the jail a day ago after withdrawal of orders for his detention under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance. The high court had warned Swabi’s deputy commissioner of action over those orders.

The PTI leader said that he would neither quit the party nor would he ditch its founder and former prime minister, Imran Khan.

Says won’t quit party, calls for level playing field

“Whether imprisoned or free, Imran Khan will live on in the hearts and minds of the people,” he said, adding that the former prime minister was put behind bars in “unjust” cases.

Mr Qaiser said that if the caretaker government continued to discriminate against the PTI in the run-up to elections, it would be considered pre-poll rigging.

He said that it was the birthright of the people to elect their representatives and if their choice was disregarded, then the forthcoming electoral exercise would be “worthless.”

The PTI leader demanded authorities let the people elect their leaders.

“We advocate and strive for free and fair elections, whose holding is vital at the current juncture of our history,” he said.

Mr Qaiser said that the PTI wanted a level playing field for participating in elections.

He complained about the “continued harassment” of PTI leaders, including Mr Imran, and said his party should be dealt with fairly ahead of polls.

The PTI leader said that his party would continue to follow laws and the principles of democratic order “in all circumstances.”

Mr Qaiser, who won both 2013 and 2018 elections from two constituencies here, said that he would contest the Feb 2024 polls in Swabi’s NA-19 and PK-50 constituencies and emerge victorious yet again.

“Our workers are motivated and ready to play their due role for our electoral success,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2023