ISLAMABAD: Two more political personalities on Thursday joined Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) but one of them was expelled late at night.

Soon after the announcement about the joining of the PTI by Farooq Bandial, a criticism started that he was allegedly involved in a heinous crime related to a film actress.

PTI Information Secretary Fawad Chaudhry initially told Dawn that Mr Bandial from Khoshab had been allowed to join the party after he desired so.

“We are not an intelligence agency to investigate personalities before allowing them to join the PTI. After criticism, Imran Khan decided to form a committee headed by Naeemul Haque to inquire if the incidence of 1978 was correct or not,” he said.

However, the PTI in a tweet later said Mr Bandial had been expelled from the party. Senior party leader Shireen Mazari also confirmed the decision.

The other personality, Chaudhry Ashraf Gujjar, on Thursday left the PML-N and joined the PTI.

Mr Gujjar, who contested elections on the ticket of PML-N from NA-48 Islamabad, met Imran Khan at Banigala and announced his decision.

The PTI chairman nominated Mr Gujjar as the convener of the party’s judicial reforms committee.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2018