Mian Azhar Join PTI

LAHORE – PML-Q founding president Mian Azhar has finally given a nod to Imran Khan for joining the PTI along with veteran leaguers belonging to the provincial metropolis, TheNation has learnt. 

The PTI sources privy to the information regarding ‘Nod’ from Mian Azhar along with seasoned Muslim Leaguers told this scribe on Friday that former Punjab governor would announce joining the PTI during a media interaction with Imran Khan on October 5. 

Members of Mian Azhar’s inner circle confirming the information of TheNation claimed that there were strong possibilities that Farooq Amjad Mir, a former member parliament and naib nazim Lahore and notable sidelined Muslim Leaguer is also expected to announce joining the PTI ranks in the same event. 

They maintained that an announcement would also be made on the occasion naming Mian Azhar for an important position in the party to bring maximum number of right-wing voters, preferably Leaguers into PTI fold. 

Meanwhile, PTI sources informing about the background details of this development told that Mian Azhar had decided to join the PTI in a recent meeting with his old buddies and leaguers belong to the provincial metropolis. They further informed that a close aide of Mian Azhar communicated to PTI Punjab president few days back to ask Imran Khan for visiting PML-Q’s former president residence to formally extend an invitation to him for joining the PTI. Imran Khan met Mian Azhar and formally invited him to join PTI along with his political partners. They added that Mian Azhar and some of his old friends finally decided to join the PTI in a meeting after Imran’s visit and conveyed their decision to PTI chief. 

However, influential political circles of Punjab were of the opinion that Mian Azhar has yet to prove his ‘threat perception’ in the provincial capital, which is considered a stronghold of the PML-N. 

While, PML-Q leaders were happy over the development, which would mature on October 5, as they have no worth mentioning political stakes in the City. Similarly, PPP leadership also seemed happy over the newest political development, which they think, would ultimately damage the PML-N at their very political battleground. 

Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, senior PML-N leader when reached said that he would pray that May Almighty Allah give success to Mian Azhar in his new political venture, as the former governor failed in his previous political moves. 

It may be noted here that Mian Azhar also held the position of mayor of the metropolitan corporation Lahore from 1987-1991, besides governor. He was also elected member parliament from the then NA-95, the seat vacated by Mian Nawaz Sharif who then kept the provincial seat and served as chief minister. Mian Azhar also got re-elected as MNA from NA-92 in the 1997 polls but could not manage to win the next two NA polls in the year 2002 and 2008.