PTI-'Q' merger in the works, Imran reveals

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) are in talks to fight the next general elections on the same symbol, PTI Chairman Imran Khan has said.

In an interview, the PTI chairman said he has also recommended that PML-Q merge with the PTI. Calling the coalition politics "tough," he said partners use the leverage to extract benefits from the government.

"That's why we are trying to fight the election on one symbol." Mr Khan claimed his party's lawmakers were being pressurised to not vote for CM Parvez Elahi during the vote of confidence in the assembly.

Says party MPAs being 'blackmailed' not to vote for Elahi; accuses ex-COAS of 'hiring' Hussain Haqqani "Mr X and Y have sent messages to our MPAs that Imran

Khan has no future and they should switch sides or abstain from voting," he claimed.

He added that he was still determined to dissolve Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies after the vote of confidence. Mr Khan continued to level accusations against former army chief General Qamar Jawed Bajwa and said he completely changed after getting the extension in 2019.

Talking about the change in Gen Bajwa's views, Mr Khan claimed that the former COAS used to "give indication" that he was against opposition leaders and even called them corrupt.

"After that [extension] … he started saying to focus on the economy and forget accountability," Mr Khan said, adding that in his view, the ex-COAS didn't think corruption was bad. Mr Khan also accused the retired general of hiring ex-ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani to campaign against him in Washington.