SAHIWAL, March 7: Mian Anwarul Haq Ramay, former PML-N MNA and parliamentary secretary on information who had joined the PML-Q sometime back, has now joined the PPP.

Ramay announced his fresh change of heart at a press conference at his residence here on Sunday in the presence of Qasim Zia, the Punjab PPP president and opposition leader in the provincial assembly. Punjab PPP information secretary Naveed Chaudhry and Ahmed Hassan Daher were also present on the occasion.

A large number of PML-Q workers led by Chaudhry Muhammad Afzal Haji also joined the PPP. Meanwhile, serious differences cropped up in the ranks of the PPP and PML-N over the shifting of loyalties by Mian Anwarul Haq Ramay.

Addressing the workers at the residence of Malik Nadim Kamran, Punjab PML-N secretary-general Khwaja Saad Rafique ruled out any place for 'turncoats' in the ARD or any of its component party.

He said that he had already made it clear to Qasim Zia that the PML-N would boycott the ARD meeting if Mr Ramay was accepted in the PPP. He said the matter would be taken up in the central meeting of the ARD scheduled to be held on March 10.

Talking to newsmen, Qasim Zia said the formal approval of joining the party by Mian Anwarul Haq Ramay had been accorded by party chairperson Benazir Bhutto. During the press conference, a PML-N leader from Lahore contacted Qasim Zia by phone and asked him to review the decision on Mr Ramay. But Zia told him that it was too late.

Meanwhile, former provincial assembly candidate and Tehrik-i-Insaaf leader Mujahid Bukhari also announced joining the PPP. Ramay said that he had full confidence in the leadership of PPP and that he was convinced by the party policies.

His joining the PPP may dampen ARD enthusiasm for the March 11 public meeting in Sahiwal. Mean while, a meeting of Punjab ARD held here on Sunday took stock of the arrangements for the alliance moot.

It was learnt that a caravan each would come from Multan and Lahore. The Lahore caravan would include ARD chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Raja Zafarul Haq, Saranjaam Khan, Jahangir Badr and Memona Hashmi. Buses from Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, DG Khan, Sargodha and Rawalpindi would bring the workers.

CM's VISIT: The Sahiwal visit of the chief minister has been rescheduled because of the ARD meeting. He will now come here on March 14 instead of 11.