–PML-N’s minority MNA says he hopes ‘elder brother Chaudhry Nisar will also join PTI’
–Imran Khan says Sharif family disrespecting judiciary to hide their corruption
ISLAMABAD: Ramesh Kumar Vankani, a member of the National Assembly on a minority seat from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), joined Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday, echoing the PTI chief’s claims that the Sharif family is making efforts to hide its corruption by disrespecting the judiciary.
Kumar made the announcement during a joint press conference with the PTI chief in the federal capital.
“I refused to be a part of the PML-N after the language and stance they adopted following the Panama Papers case,”the MNA said.
Responding to a question, the MNA said, “I hope Chaudhry Nisar joins PTI too” to which Imran Khan added that the “party had just started”.
“Chaudhry Nisar is like my elder brother and he kept assuring me that things would change in PML-N, so I had stayed with the party this long,” Ramesh added.
Claiming that he “always practised politics of principles” and raised his voice on issues of human rights, Kumar said, “I was one of the few to speak up against the incumbent government’s decision to privatise the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).”
Kumar claimed that when PML-N leaders did not listen to him, he wrote columns in newspapers to get his point of view across.
The Hindu lawmaker claimed that the PTI Minorities Wing would soon hold a big gathering to show its political muscle.
“All of Pakistan’s minority communities will vote for the PTI in this election,” he claimed.
Speaking on the occasion, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said, “Quaid-e-Azam struggled and created Pakistan to protect minorities.”
“We will protect minorities by bringing in a rule of law,” he said, adding that his government will ensure and create equal opportunities for minorities.
Taking a jibe at the PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif, Khan said that the Sharif family is making efforts to hide its corruption by disrespecting the judiciary.
Imran said that everyone is witnessing how the nation is standing with the judiciary.
“Everyone has faith in the Supreme Court’s new leadership,” said the PTI chief.
The PTI chief demanded that Nawaz Sharif should disclose his sources of income and the means through which he had transferred the money abroad.
“Wajid Zia is being attacked because he can’t speak against them,” Imran Khan said.
Discussing the 2013 general elections, Imran alleged that the returning officers too were involved in the rigging of the polls, and all political parties were in agreement over it.
The PTI chief also accused political rival Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) of buying votes in the recently held Senate elections.
“Asif Zardari is mistaken that he can buy Punjab chief minister’s post by spending money like he did during the Senate elections,” Imran stressed.
Addressing a rally on April 4, Zardari had claimed that his party would not even let the PML-N retain the chief minister’s slot in Punjab.
Kumar was elected as a member of the National Assembly on a reserved seat for minorities on the PML-N ticket in the General Elections 2013.
Earlier in March, MNA Nisar Jutt deserted the ruling PML-N to join the PTI, along with his aides.
Prior to that, the PML-N lost two lawmakers from Gujranwala to Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Last year saw a series of political switchings, with a number of political workers and lawmakers joining Imran Khan-led PTI.
To name a few, Pakistan People’s Party Nazar Gondal, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Babar Awan joined the PTI last year.
In May 2017, former president Asif Ali Zardari’s close aide also switched to the PTI, whereas, former chief minister Sindh Liaquat Jatoi left the PML-N to join Imran’s party.
