GUJRAT: The local chapter of the PML-N suffered a setback on Sunday as its district information secretary and a former vice chairman of Mehmda union council announced joining the PML-Q.

PML-N official Azam Ghumman announced joining the PML-Q in a meeting with MNA Chaudhry Moonis Elahi at the Zahoor Elahi House here.

Mr Ghuman had been an active worker of the PML-N for the last two decades, particularly during the Musharraf regiem.

He was elected as UC vice chairman in the local bodies’ elections held in October, 2015, as a PML-N nominee.

Ghumman’s defection to the PML-Q is being seen as a big blow to the PML-N, particularly because it came at a time when the party was mobilising its workers for the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally to be held at Gujranwala on Oct 16.

Earlier, PML-N city chapter’s secretary general Raja Habeebur Rehman had joined the PML-Q in a meeting with Moonis Elahi last month.

Moonis welcomed Mr Ghumman into the party fold and said the PML-Q would prefer the active party workers to award the party tickets for the upcoming local bodies polls in Gujrat city.

Mr Ghumman commended the Q leadership for their role in the uplift of Gujrat.

Meanwhile, Mr Elahi spent two days in his hometown on the weekend and held meetings with the party officials and former representatives of the local bodies from Gujrat city.

He told various delegations which met him that he had been striving to get maximum development funds for the city and its surrounding areas.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2020