LAHORE, Dec 28: Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Inamullah Khan Niazi with his brother, Abdul Hafeez Niazi, both former MPAs, resigned from the party on Wednesday. They however did not announce joining cousin Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

At a press conference, Mr Niazi said they were resigning in protest at a group of conspirators, who had taken over party affairs since the return of Nawaz Sharif from exile in 2007.

Mr Niazi alleged that one of the conspirators was anti-state and working against the very ideology of Pakistan the PML-N championed.

“Who are Lt-Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch, Zahid Hamid and Anushe Rehman? Where have they come from to run the party affairs?” he asked the party leadership.He said the remnants of Musharraf and turncoats were being accepted in the party contrary to the party’s earlier stance that no turncoats would be accepted. He said the conspirators were making their group within the party in every district.

In a reference to the growing say of the Kashmiris (the clan PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif belongs to) in the party, he said that dynastic politics would not gain currency in today’s Pakistan.

“Workers will abandon the party leaving behind ‘Khwajasaras’ (or eunuchs) and Khwajgaan-e-buland baang (the oligarchy with hollow but loud claims).”

He said the party had not been organised in districts for the last three years in the presence of Mr Sharif in the country. The re-organisation process was completed twice in their absence, he said, adding that a certain group was hurdle in the re-organisation process.

He predicted a tremor (defections) in the party in 10 days, saying Javed Hashmi and he were the first drops of rain as the leadership should wait for the “downpour”.

He said though he had no specific complaints against the Sharifs, he had been ignored and humiliated by the party in his home district.

He said he would remain a Muslim League activist until his “constituents” in Mianwali and Bhakkar decided about his political future.

He warned his opponents in the PML that unlike Hashmi he would retort if anyone dared to raise a finger at his character which, he claimed, had been stainless in his 20 years of political career.

About a statement of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, he said he should not be asked about the man with “fake moustache” as Rana Sana himself should tell the people how he merited running the show in Punjab. He said he was cousin of Imran Khan by chance but had joined the PML-N by choice.

He said he had warned Nawaz Sharif back in 2006 in London that the biggest threat to the party would be from the rightists, especially Imran Khan. “But the party chief told me that I am over-estimating Imran’s standing,” he said.

Opinion

Editorial

War & deception
Updated 09 Mar, 2026

War & deception

While there is little doubt that Iran is involved in many of the retaliatory attacks, the facts raise suspicions that another player may be at work.
The witness box
09 Mar, 2026

The witness box

IT is often the fear of the courtroom and what may transpire therein that drives many victims of crime, especially...
Asylum applications
09 Mar, 2026

Asylum applications

BRITAIN’S tough immigration posture has again drawn attention to the sharp rise in asylum claims by Pakistani...
Petrol shock
Updated 08 Mar, 2026

Petrol shock

With oil markets bracing for more volatility, more price shocks are inevitable in the coming weeks.
Women’s Day
08 Mar, 2026

Women’s Day

IT is a simple truth: societies progress when women are able to shape them. Yet the struggle for equality has never...
Rescuing hockey
08 Mar, 2026

Rescuing hockey

PAKISTAN hockey is back to where it should be. Years of misses came to an end on Friday with a long-awaited...