Split in PTI hampering formation of anti-govt alliance 

At a time when the PTI, the largest opposition party in the country, is making overtures to other parties to form an alliance against the coalition government, there are reports of differences of opinion within the party on who will lead the alliance, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.

Sources told 24News TV channel that the group, headed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, had reservations if Asad Qaiser, a PTI stalwart, led the alliance.  

This was precisely the reason, they claimed, that the JUI-F had still not agreed to join the alliance. 

Furthermore, following contacts made by Qaiser with the opposition parties in Sindh, including Pir Pagara, Gandapur too had decided to reach out to them, sources elaborated. 

However, he failed to do so due to a sudden cancellation of the visit to Karachi. 

Also on Monday, pronouncing a reserved verdict, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad approved post-arrest bail applications of 56 PTI workers, who had been taken into custody in the wake of the November 26 protest. 

Cases were registered against them at Tarnol and Kohsar police stations of the federal capital.

Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain read out the verdict.

Reporter: Tayyab Saif