ATTOCK, March 6: Sources report that after meeting with Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Tuesday, Sardar Sikandar Hayat - a former provincial minister and senior figure in the PPP - has decided to join Khan’s party.

Hayat’s decision may have a significant impact on PTI’s position in Attock in the upcoming elections.

Previously, the PTI was considered to have a strong grip on two of Attock’s National Assembly constituencies, with Malik Amin Aslam, a former state minister, representing NA-57, and Malik Suhail Khan representing NA-59.

With Sikandar Hayat’s entry into the party, the PTI will now be able to field a strong candidate for NA-59 Attock-III, a seat which had been considered likely to go to Sardar Saleem Hydar, of the PPP.

“Saleem Hydar is a candidate from the ruling party,” sources said, “and he has all the support of the federal government. He was believed to have a lock on the seat”.

Sikandar Hayat might, however, pose a significant threat, as he is an influential figure in the constituency, as a former provincial minister who was also elected, in 1977 and 1988, to the Provincial Assembly seat of PP-15 Attock-IV (now PP-18).

Hayat’s family background has added to his stature in Attock.

His grandfather, Sir Sikandar Hayat, was a close associate of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and an active participant in the freedom movement. Sardar Sikandar Hayat’s father, Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan, was himself an influential politician who represented Attock in the National Assembly.

PTI leaders Amin Aslam and Sardar Mumtaz Khan reportedly helped persuade Sikandar Hayat to join the PTI.

“It is a great achievement for us to have a renowned politician join hands with the PTI,” they said.

“He is certain to help strengthen the PTI’s position in Attock and in the contest for the NA-59 seat.”

Sikandar Hayat is expected to make an official announcement of his decision on Thursday.