Big blow to Imran Khan’s party, three independent candidates join opposition party in Punjab – Dainik Savera Times
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Lahore: In a blow to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, three independent members supported by it in the Punjab Provincial Assembly have joined the rival party. At the same time, Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has succeeded in getting eight more independent members elected in the provincial assembly and one member elected in the National Assembly. With this, its number of seats in the National Assembly has increased to 80 and in Punjab Assembly to more than 150.
In Punjab, PML-N has nominated Maryam Nawaz, daughter of three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, for the post of Chief Minister. Three PTI-backed members of the Punjab Assembly have joined hands with Aleem Khan’s Istikaam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP). After the resignation of IPP’s chief patron Jahangir Khan Tareen, Aleem is handling the functioning of the party. This party was formed after separating from Imran Khan’s PTI after the violence on May 9.
Aleem is reportedly trying to bring PTI-backed independent candidates into his fold to increase his numbers in Punjab with the help of the powerful establishment. Three PTI-supported members elected to the provincial assembly – Sardar Awais Drashiq, Zahid Ismail Bhatta and Hafiz Tahir Kaisarani and another independent member Ghazanfar Abbas Cheena met Aleem in Lahore and announced their joining the IPP.
Aleem claimed that another group of 10 to 15 members supported by PTI in the provincial assembly will soon join the IPP and he is in touch with them. The fourth PTI-backed member in Sindh, Ejaz Swati, has joined Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). So far five elected members have left Imran Khan’s party. Efforts are being made to strengthen the position of PML-N both at the Center and in Punjab and include more members in the party. Sources said that the aim of PML-N and its ally IPP is to include so many independent candidates supported by PTI in their camp so that they do not depend too much on PPP in future.
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