The former organiser of the Punjab-based Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said, "He plans to contest the election for provincial presidency". Chaudhary Mohammad Sarwar's announcement came as he spoke with the media after an All-Parties Conference arranged by the Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan and party workers on Wednesday.
He posed a question on his contesting the polls, saying, "If Asif Zardari, Shahbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif can hold both government and party offices, why are some people still criticising him over contesting the election?" He also rubbished a string of claims of quitting the party, saying he was "in the party and would remain so". He then condemned the terror attack on the Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, saying terrorists would fail in silencing "the voice of knowledge". He said, "The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf stands with the armed forces of Pakistan till the menace of terrorism is wiped out, and we are ready to sacrifice ourselves.