ISLAMABAD: Zulfi Bukhari, a close aide of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and “prime minister-in-waiting” Imran Khan, has denied reports that he will contest NA-53 by-polls. “I am eager to resolve fundamental issues of all constituencies of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) instead of contesting NA-53 by-elections,” he said while putting an end to speculations that were rife ever since the PTI chairman clinched victory against the former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi from NA-53 Islamabad. Bukhari expressed these remarks during a roundtable discussion at his residence on Friday. “I don’t want any designation or position in any respect,” he said, adding: “I will be available for my leader Imran Khan for whatever task he will like to assign.” When asked how he would resolve the issues facing the ICT, Bukhari said: “If we form a 5-member team in each ward of a union council and authorise it to concentrate on real issues in their respective constituencies then no issue will remain unsettle.” He also mentioned several civic issues in the ICT, including water scarcity and “marginalisation of slum people”. He vowed to resolve water issue in Sohan village from his personal resources in the near future. He went on to say that the PTI would introduce tax reforms to uplift economy. To a question, Bukhari clarified the party leadership was yet to decide about the constituency to be retained by the PTI chairman. Imran has clinched victory in all five National Assembly constituencies he contested for but he is bound to retain only one constituency. Replying to another question about possible nominations for Punjab chief minister, the PTI volunteer said, “Former interior minister Chauhdry Nisar Ali Khan is a close ally of PTI chief but he is not in the list.” Apart from local issues of the ICT, Bukhari claimed he would try to woo oversees Pakistanis to invest in Pakistan and start their businesses here. “Soon after our victory, a car manufacturing company owner in Canada congratulated me and expressed his desire to install a manufacturing plant in Pakistan.” He said that it should be top most priority of the next government to bring foreign investment to the country. Published in Daily Times, July 28th 2018.