Web Desk
According to a report in The News published on Monday, Pakistan Muslim League-Zia (PML-Z) President Ijaz Ul Haq appears to have distanced himself from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) following the May 9 riots and their aftermath.
In response to a letter from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Haq clarified that his party had not merged with the PTI, refuting media reports that suggested otherwise. Numerous PTI leaders have disassociated themselves from the party following the violent protests on May 9, during which government and military installations were attacked by enraged PTI supporters.
While the civil and military leaders vowed to take strong action against those involved in the riots, Haq’s claims came in response to a letter he received from the electoral authority inquiring about his party’s status and intra-party polls for the upcoming general elections.
Haq, the son of former military ruler General Zia ul Haq, and PTI Chairman Imran Khan had met in Lahore in March of this year, leading to media reports about the merger of their respective parties. However, Haq’s response to the ECP stated that no merger had taken place during their meeting and that any news reports suggesting otherwise were baseless.
The ECP sought clarification from Haq regarding whether PML-Z had merged with PTI and whether he intended to contest the forthcoming general elections on a PTI ticket. The ECP requested these clarifications in accordance with the Elections Act, of 2017.
As of now, it is clear that PML-Z has denied any merger with the PTI, and Haq’s response will guide the ECP in determining the status and position of his party for future proceedings.
