LAHORE, March 4: Marvi Memon said on Sunday it took her three years to realise that she should not do politics from the platform of a party of “the establishment”.

She said she also realised that the criticism levelled at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was often not justified.

Ms Memon, who once belonged to the PML-Q, was addressing a news conference at which she announced her decision to join the PML-N. President of the PML-N Mian Nawaz Sharif was present on the occasion.

After resigning from the PML-Q she had the option of joining several parties, she said. “At first I decided to continue my political journey all alone. But now I have decided to join the PML-N because it is the only party which is compatible with my views,” she said.

The policies of the PML-N were not aimed at getting to power only. And its leadership was not arrogant, she said. “In fact, the PML-N leadership is civilised, wise and serious.”

Ms Memon, who was quite active in efforts to improve Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s image when he was president, said: “I have realised in three years that politics cannot be done from the platform of an establishment party and others who are in politics for years have not yet learnt this lesson.”

She appeared to be criticising Imran Khan and his party, the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf.

She was earlier reported to be interested in joining the PTI but later developed differences with it.

Ms Memon expressed the hope that PML-N would manage to steer the country out of its various crises. “I will work as a worker in my new party,” she added.

On the occasion, Mr Sharif said his party would endeavour to make the government and the establishment accountable whenever a wrongdoing was committed.