LAHORE: In a major blow to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), its newly elected Independent Member of the National Assembly from Lahore Wasim Qadir on Saturday joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Qadir, who served as general secretary of PTI Lahore, met PML-N senior vice president and chief organizer Maryam Nawaz Sharif to formalize his change, a day after three newly elected independents joined the PML-N.
During the meeting, which was also attended by prominent PML-N leader Malik Saiful Malook Khokhar, Qadir reiterated his full confidence in the PML-N leadership of Quaid Nawaz Sharif. He said his decision resulted from extensive consultation with his constituents and close associates.
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Qadir, a PTI-backed independent candidate, won the February 8 election from NA-121 in Lahore, securing 78,703 votes against PML-N’s Sheikh Rohail Asghar, who secured 70,597 votes. Earlier, Qadir was the general secretary of PTI for Lahore.
“I have returned to my home for the development and progress of the people in my constituency. I have rejoined PML-N,” Qadir said in a video statement shared by PML-N on its X handle. Maryam Nawaz Sharif welcomed Qadir’s decision.
