GUJRAT: A former disgruntled lawmaker of the PML-N from Gujrat, Malik Hanif Awan, may rejoin the party after party president Shehbaz Sharif phoned him following hectic efforts by some local party cadres to bring him back into party folds.

Well-placed sources told Dawn that Mr Sharif contacted the ex-MNA on Friday and inquired after his health and other family members.

It was the first-ever direct contact of senior PML-N leadership with Mr Awan during the last almost four years.

Elected to Punjab Assembly twice and NA once, Awan had also served as party president in Gujrat district for two decades (1999 to 2018) and remained a steadfast supporter of the Sharifs.

He sidelined himself during the party’s last tenure (2013-18) due to his differences with MNA Abid Raza Kotla whose entrance into the PML-N had been paved by Mr Awan himself in 2008.

When contacted, Mr Awan confirmed the report of receiving a telephone call from Shehbaz but said nothing political was discussed.

He said he would decide the future course of action in consultation with supporters and well-wishers within the ranks of the PML-N and his constituency, NA-71 (Kharian and Sara-i-Alamgir).

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2021