Around 25 stalwarts of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), including former MPA Chaudhary Mohammad Shabbir, have announced joining the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
This development came about during a ceremony on Saturday, where PTI Punjab Organiser Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed and MPA Mian Aslam Iqbal welcomed the newcomers to the party folds.
The PML-N leaders who joined the PTI are: Rana Ijaz, Sheikh Muhammad Ismail Khan, Khalid Raza Khan, Hamid Raza Gillani, Khalid Shaheen, Qazi Pervaiz, Qazi Nasir, Naeem Shad advocate, Arif Chaudhary, Babar Chaudhary, Sheikh Azhar, Shafqat Ahmad Butt, Waqar Shah and Nasir Chinioti from Lahore.
The PPP leaders who joined the PTI are: Moeen, Muhammad Rasheed, Azmat Sultan, Nabeel Abbasi, Shahid Gul, Aftab Gul, Sultan Mujahid Minhas, Hamza Gul, Ahmad and Saadat Ali.
These leaders expressed their confidence in PTI chief Imran Khan at the joining ceremony.
Addressing the participants of the ceremony, Chaudhary Sarwar said Imran Khan would address a mammoth gathering in Lahore on Sunday and the PTI would prove that Lahore was now its fort. He said the rulers would not be able to win the by-election and would face a humiliating defeat. He said the PML-N and PPP were becoming history and the future belonged to the PTI.
“All segments of society are supporting the PTI for the October 11 by-election and that is why the rulers are trying to harass and pressure people,” he added.
Sarwar maintained that the PTI had prepared itself to teach a lesson to those trying to rig the by-election. He said PTI tigers would remain alert at polling stations and that those elements trying to rig the elections would be exposed.
The PTI leader further said that the rulers should start respecting people’s mandate, adding that neither an honest leadership could come into power nor corruption and injustice eliminated without ensuring a free and fair election system in the country.