Sunni Ittehad Council Aims for Own Prime Minister Amidst PTI-Backed Independent Surge

Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza affirmed on Monday the party’s determination to nominate its own prime minister, as independent members backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) began aligning with the religious party, as reported by News.

National and provincial assembly lawmakers, endorsed by the PTI, have initiated the process of formally declaring their allegiance to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) by submitting affidavits, adhering to the party’s directive. 

Additionally, the religious party has submitted a plea to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for reserved seats. Speaking to journalists outside the ECP office, SIC chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza underlined that the party’s alliance with the Imran Khan-led PTI was longstanding, spanning six years.

He emphasized the significance of upholding the public mandate and condemned the reported attempts by other political factions to sway five to six independent lawmakers. Sahibzada Hamid Raza also clarified that his father had never served as a member of the National Assembly (MNA) under the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) banner. He further addressed concerns regarding reserved seats for women.

Earlier in the day, PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan announced the integration of party-backed independent candidates, who secured victories in the Centre, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the 2024 general elections, into the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) as part of their parliamentary strategy.

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Barrister Gohar addressed the media in Islamabad, joined by party figures Raoof Hasan, PTI’s prime ministerial candidate Omar Ayub Khan, SIC Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Majlis Wahadat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) Secretary General Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.

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The decision followed extensive consultations between PTI, SIC, and MWM. The evolving political landscape in Pakistan, with none of the major parties securing a simple majority in the National Assembly, has spurred efforts among political stakeholders to forge alliances and secure a parliamentary majority. PTI-backed independent candidates have emerged as frontrunners, consolidating their lead over mainstream parties, particularly in the National and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assemblies, during the election results announcement process.