KARACHI: It is highly likely that Former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Irfanullah Marwat will join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Marwat will run for PS-114’s constituency in the by-election, scheduled to be held on July 9 this year.
On Saturday, a delegation of the PTI comprising provincial president Arif Alvi, deputy general secretary Imran Ismail and Haleem Adil Sheikh met Marwat at his residence. It was the fourth meeting between the PTI leaders and Marwat and this time they managed to convince him to support their party in the election.
The PS-114 constituency was won by Marwat on a PML-N ticket in the 2013 general elections.
Marwat’s victory, however, was declared void by the election tribunal in July 2014 after the runner-up, Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Rauf Siddiqui, challenged the result alleging that the polls were rigged.
On May 11 this year, the Supreme Court dismissed Marwat’s appeal against the election tribunal’s decision.
Marwat had decided to file a review petition against the Supreme Court’s decision to disqualify him so he too could run for the seat.
However, he has now decided to support the PTI and is likely to announce this on June 14.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Haleem Adil Sheikh said now that Marwat had decided to back the PTI, there was no obstacle left for the party in winning the election.
“Marwat will accompany PTI Chairman Imran Khan on his trip to Karachi on June 18,” he added.
“Now the PS-114 race is a hot contest between the PTI and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. Pakistan People’s Party’s Saeed Ghani doesn’t even stand a chance.”
Marwat is considered to have a significant support base in the constituency.
