LAHORE, March 23: Pakistan People’s Party leaders Syed Fakhr Imam and Iftikhar Nazir on Saturday announced joining the PML-N.

They made the announcement after calling on PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif at their Raiwind residence.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Imam said a majority of people in his area wanted him to join the PML-N.

“The PML-N has forward looking leadership,” he said.

To a question about contesting the next election from NA-156, he said it was up to the PML-N leadership to award him ticket. Asked if his wife, Abida Husain, was joining the PML-N too, he declined to comment.

Former National Assembly speaker Fakhr Imam had lost the last election to PML-Q’s Raza Hayat Hiraj in Khanewal (NA-156).

The couple’s daughter, Syeda Sughra Imam, is a member of the Senate from the PPP ticket. They had previously quit the PML-N for the PML-Q and then joined the PPP.

Abida Husain earlier said she and her husband would be compelled to quit the PPP in case they were denied ticket by the leadership under the PPP-Q seat-adjustment formula in the coming general election.

Interestingly, the PML-N has also been trying to rope in her rival, PML-Q’s Faisal Saleh Hayat (from Jhang).

Former PPP MNA Iftikhar Nazir will now be the PML-N candidate for NA-159, Jehanian, Khanewal district.