GUJAR KHAN, Nov 5: Raja Jawaid Ikhlas, former city district nazim of Rawalpindi, on Friday rejoined Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), indicating efforts to pool together the Muslim League vote in Gujar Khan.

He made the decision after meeting with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad on Friday.

Opposition leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Senator Pervez Rashid were also present at the meeting. Mr Ikhlas' return to PML-N is seen as significant move to fortify PML-N's position against Pakistan People's Party's (PPP) stalwart Raja Pervez Ashraf.

Before joining Q League in 2001, he had been elected as member of the Punjab Assembly from Gujar Khan's constituency, PP-4, for five times. In 2005, he was elected as the city district nazim of Rawalpindi.

During the 2008 elections, Raja Ikhlas had fielded his son, Raja Qasim Jawaid Ikhlas, for the NA 51 seat, who surprised everyone by bagging over 72,000 votes, giving a tough fight to PPP's Raja Ashraf, who won the seat. Chaudhry Mohammad Riaz of PML-N had secured 54,000 votes, making clear that the division of Muslim League had helped the PPP win the seat.