MINGORA: The PML-N’s local leaders along with thousands of supporters announced the joining of the ruling PTI here on Saturday.

The activists of MSF wings of the Government Jahanzeb College Saidu Sharif and Government Technical College Panr also announced that they had joined the PTI.

During a public meeting, they said they’d joined the PTI as its government in the province had brought about the promised change in the system of governance and had successfully cracked down on ‘corrupt ‘political mafia’.

MNAs Saleemur Rehman and Murad Saeed, irrigation minister Mehmood Khan and MPAs Fazal Hakim Khan, Mohibullah Khan and Azizullah Gran were also present on the occasion.

Announcing the joining of the PTI, PML-N district general secretary Umar Farooq said all political parties other than the PTI were not sincere about the people’s development and that they looted the country’s resources.

“I realised that only PTI chief Imran Khan’s vision to bring change in the country and fight corrupt political mafia is true and therefore, I decided to quit the PML-N and join the PTI’s movement of change,” he said.

He said youths had a great role to play for the country’s development.

“Youths are the real asset of our nation. I am happy that the PTI’s Youth Wing has properly assumed that role of leading the country,” he said.

Newcomers to the PTI said they were disappointed with the policies of PML-N leader Amir Muqam and that his bad behaviour towards workers forced them to leave the party.

MPA Azizullah Gran welcomed them to the party and said the political workers joining the PTI in large numbers showed its growing popularity.

He said he was hopeful that the PTI would sweep the next elections for form governments in the provinces and centre.

Analysts declared the exit of Umar Farooq a blow to the PML-N and said the former PML-N leader had a large number of supporters and sympathisers.

“The departure of Engineer Umar Farooq means a big loss for the PML-N in the region. The development shows that the Nawaz Sharif’s party will face big challenges in the upcoming general elections,” said Hazer Gul of Mingora.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2017