SIALKOT: Former PPP minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan met Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday at Nathiagali resort and announced joining his party.

PTI central leader Jehangir Tareen and Sialkot leaders were also present.

The reports of her ditching the PPP, which she joined in 2007 after ditching the PML-Q, had been making rounds for the last several months.

Before leaving Sialkot for the meeting, Ms Awan said that she had joined the PTI in the larger interest of the people of her constituency — NA-111.

She said that she had consulted the people of her area before taking the decision.

The PPP is in the spat of defection in central Punjab as hardly a week ago, its another staunch leader from Gujrat, Nawabzada Ghazanfar Gul, also left the party. He has yet to announce his new political destination.

Dr Awan started her political career as a PML-Q MNA on women’s reserved seat in 2002. In the 2008 elections, she was a PPP candidate for NA-111.

She won the election. Until 2013, she remained a federal minister.

In 2013, she lost the election to PML-N candidate Chaudhry Armughan Subhani.

As it is the election year, Firdous Ashiq Awan joined the PTI.

In 2013, the party had fielded Ajmal Cheema who was supported by former National Assembly speaker Chaudhry Ameer Hussain.

Local political observers say that Dr Awan would be a strong candidate on the PTI symbol.

Other PTI leaders active in the constituency such as former National Assembly speaker Chaudhry Ameer Hussain, Mian Naeem Javaid and Mr Cheema have yet to show their reaction on the development.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2017