Pakistan: Incarcerated Imran Khan rules out coalition with PML-N, PPP

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan currently incarcerated in Rawalpindirsquos Adiala Jail has ruled out the possibility of forming a coalition government with Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz PMLN Pakistan Peoples Party PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement MQMThe 71yearold Khan also the founder of the Pakistan TehreekeInsaaf PTI party was speaking with journalists at the highsecurity Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi Khan and many of his party colleagues are lodged in jail for many months in connection with convictions in multiple cases newswire PTI reportedFollowing the recent general elections where independent candidates largely supported by Khans Pakistan TehreekeInsaaf PTI party secured 101 seats in the 266member National Assembly negotiations for coalition formation have been underway between PMLN and PPP due to the lack of a clear majority However Khans firm stance has shifted the political landscape leaving the possibility of an alternative coalition openKhan said there would be no talk with the PMLN the PPP and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement MQM but expressed willingness to contact all other parties and groupsldquoThere can be no alliance with PMLN PPP and MQMrdquo he said adding that he had directed PTI Information Secretary Raouf Hasan to bring together all parties except the three partiesKhan also alleged that elections were rigged and said it would increase instability in the country and negatively impact the economy He kept saying that free and transparent elections were the only solution ldquoSuch electoral fraud never happened in the history of the countryrdquoldquoAttempts are being made to bring down the money laundering syndicate to power The Sharif family is the biggest money launderer of the countryrdquo he alleged and added that the countrys biggest problem was dollars and alleged that the Sharif family would send dollars abroadldquoThose who have been brought to rule are the biggest money launderersrdquo Khan was quoted as alleging by Geo News portalThe PTI founder further claimed that both Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz lost the elections and said ldquoWe are the first to challenge the election results We will also approach the Supreme Court against the election resultsrdquoThe former cricketer turned politician said he knew his party had won the elections when Nawaz Sharif postponed his press conferenceMeanwhile when asked if his party was forming a government in the province or at the centre Khan said that his party would first challenge the election resultsQuoting sources Geo News further reported that Khan gave instructions to the PTI regarding the KPs CM and that the former ruling party will issue a notification in this regard soonThe PTI party had not agreed on a name for the prime ministers post and will consider it later he saidKhan nominated former federal minister Ali Amin Gandapur as his partys candidate for the post of Khyber Pakhtunkhwas chief ministerThe PTI secured 84 seats in the KP Assembly and is in a pole position to form the governmentEarlier in the day the Lahore High Court dismissed more than 30 petitions filed by PTIpartybacked independent candidates who challenged the ldquosham victoryrdquo of top PMLN leaders including Nawaz Sharif and Maryam NawazThe Lahore High Court asked the defeated candidates to move to the Election Commission of Pakistan ECP for redressal of their grievances including alleged rigging of votes in the February 8 general elections With inputs from agencies