'Imran Khan invited by Afghan President to Kabul'

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has invited Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan to pay a visit to Kabul, PTI leader Naeemul Haque said on Sunday.

Addressing media here, Haque was quoted by Geo News as saying, "The Afghan president telephoned Imran and congratulated him over his victory in the 2018 General Election. Ghani told Imran that Pakistan and Afghanistan have historic relations and invited him for a tour of the country."

He underlined that Imran would visit Kabul once he was sworn in as the new Pakistan Prime Minister.

The PTI leader asserted that the party had the mandate to form the government both in the centre and in Punjab province, adding that talks were being held with various political parties for support in forming the government.

Furthermore, Haque demanded Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), President Fazlur Rehman, to take back its decision of boycotting the Pakistan Parliament.

"Maulana Fazlur Rehman should take back his decision that his elected candidates will not take the parliamentary oath in light of Imran's vow to aid in probing opposition parties' rigging allegations," he stated.

Earlier on Saturday, Haque tweeted that Imran may choose D-Chowk in Islamabad as the "right place" to take the oath.

He wrote on the micro-blogging site, "IK (Imran Khan) would prefer a People's ceremony of oath taking where thousands can watch him take the oath as PM of Pakistan. Perhaps D Chowk area may be the right place to do it. Let's hope so. Will keep on updating on this."

D-Chowk earned nationwide attention, when in August 2014, Imran and his supporters led a long march from Lahore to Islamabad to protest against alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections.

On reaching Islamabad, the demonstrators asserted that they would stay put at D-Chowk till their demands were accepted.

However, the agitation was cut short after a powerful terror attack in Peshawar's Army Public School claimed over 140 lives, with most casualties being children.

Haque previously said on the same day that Imran will be sworn-in as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan before August 14.

While asserting that PTI would form the government at the Centre, he claimed that the party would form the government in Punjab province also. He said, "Imran Khan is working day and night for this. We are in contact with independent candidates and today or until tomorrow the nation will hear a good news."

The PTI emerged as the single largest party with 115 seats, after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday released the complete preliminary results for 270 of 272 National Assembly (NA) constituencies. The ECP completed the process after almost three days when the general elections were held.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) which won 64 seats came second, while the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) bagged 43 seats and finished third.

Pakistan went to polls on Wednesday and the counting of votes began soon thereafter in the evening, which was marred by tedious counting and allegations of rigging by major political parties, including the PML-N and PPP.