GUJRAT: A former mayor of Gujrat, Tahir Maanda, has joined the PML-Q after parting his ways with the PML-N and ex-MPA Haji Nasir Mahmood (of PML-N).

Though Mr Maanda had regularly been holding meetings with PML-Q chief Shujaat Hussain and his scions Shafay Hussain and Salik Hussain for the last couple of months, he made the formal announcement of joining the party at a meeting with Ali Abrar Jaura, the recently appointed president of Gujrat city’s PML-Q chapter. Mr Jaura announced the nomination of Maanda as party’s city general secretary.

Mr Maanda had started his political career by getting elected as union council chairman from Gujrat city on the PML-N ticket in 2015 and later he was elected mayor of Gujrat MC in 2019.

The PML-Q has also been vying to win back the support of its own former elected representatives of the local bodies in Gujrat who had earlier supported the Parvez Elahi camp.

Ali Abrar Jaura told Dawn so far three other former chairmen of the city union councils Mazhar Nutt, Malik Ishaq Awan, Zafar Rehmani and several other party officials have reassured of their commitment with the PML-Q at a meeting with the senior party leadership in Lahore last week as efforts were underway to reorganise the party.

Published in Dawn, Aug 1st, 2023