LAHORE: Javed Hashmi, one of the stalwarts of Multani politics and the most visible Seraiki member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, was deciding late on Friday night whether to jump ship and join the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf bandwagon, sources told The Express Tribune.
Even though he has recently been sidelined by the PML-N leadership, Hashmi’s possible departure would come as a major blow to the PML-N, which has been struggling in South Punjab and would need Hashmi’s support in the region. Hashmi’s defection would also likely cost the party 12 members of the National Assembly and at least eight members of the Punjab Assembly, claimed sources close to the PTI.
On Friday night, the PML-N leadership was frantically trying to convince Hashmi to withdraw his decision to switch sides. Sources, however, said he is unlikely to be persuaded. “Although Hashmi’s negotiation with senior leaders of PML-N is ongoing, he will inform PTI chief Imran Khan of his final decision soon,” said a source close to Imran Khan in Karachi. He added that all negotiations between the PTI and Hashmi were conducted by Imran personally.
Imran, speaking to Express News in Karachi said that “you will hear good news tomorrow.”
It is believed that Hashmi gave his party an ultimatum: if his son-in-law Zahid Bihar Hashmi was not given a party ticket, he himself would join PTI. Hashmi could now fly to Karachi on Saturday (today), meet Imran Khan and address the PTI’s rally on Sunday.
It appears that the PTI chief wants to ensure that Hashmi and other defectors from the PML-N join him at the planned rally in front of Quaid-e-Azam’s Mausoleum in Karachi on December 25.
The PML-N seems more concerned about the bloc of Hashmi loyalists in the party leaving. Sources close to the party said that when PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif learnt of Hashmi’s intentions, he started contacting Hashmi’s supporters, asking them to stay in the PML-N, even if Hashmi joins the PTI.
Among those also considering joining PTI were Khawaja Saad Rafique (MNA, Lahore), his younger brother Khawaja Salmaan Rafique (MPA, Lahore) and former MPA Jaffar Iqbal Gujjar from Rahimyar Khan.
The PML-N went all out. Sources say that a team of PML-N leaders comprising leader Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Tehmina Doultana, Pervez Malik and Zaeem Qadri negotiated with Hashmi at the residence of Khawaja Muhammad Saad Rafique in Lahore’s upscale DHA neighbourhood.
Apparently party president Nawaz Sharif sent a high-powered delegation to Rafique’s residence, where after around four hours of negotiation they succeeded in dissuading Rafique from joining PTI.
Late on Friday night, Ahsan Iqbal, told media after an hour long meeting concluded at Saad Rafique’s house, that “he [Hashmi] is a big asset for the party, and that we will not allow any big news to be created.”
Hashmi is a remarkably popular figure, winning three National Assembly seats in 2008 – from Rawalpindi, Lahore and Multan. He eventually vacated two of those and kept NA-149, representing his native Multan. He could be the second Multani politician to join the PTI, the first being Shah Mehmood Qureshi, former foreign minister and Hashmi’s hometown political rival.
The news of PTI defections could extend further over the weekend. Credible sources in PTI told The Express Tribune that MQM H leader Afaq Ahmad and PPP’ MNA Nabeel Gabol are likely to join PTI on December 25.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 24th, 2011.
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We never vote for Hashmees and qureshhees. We vote for PML N. Feeling pitty for Javed Hashmi 2000 men aise kai hashmi chale gy thy to kia PMLn khtm ho gy??????????????
Javed Hashmi is our Hero. We are proud of him..
good news. sharif brothers go back to saudi and leave us.
@Zia Do u know Mr Hashmi? u sound more like Rana Sana Ullah.. without substance and Logic...
it's good achievement of Pakistan PTI.
Tread carefully Imran Khan. Kasuri joining was the worst decision. He was membes of Musharraf team. This nation hates Musharraf. They should not hate you. I am double minded with respect to these old names joining your party.
Congratulations to PTI..
It is a great revolutionary step for Pakistan.. VERY VERY CONGRATS TO JAVED HASHMI.
one day left for the big tsunami to hit karachi
Imran Khan now u got the Javed Miandad of politics Javed Hashmi as your vice captain:) ... the deadly combination has formed .... all v need now a final six on the last ball :)
yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh go pti go love and prayers for imran khan
Well...he just joined PTI...that certainly makes our day!
He is the 2nd real achievement for PTI after Shah Mehmood Qureshi.Lot of other people joining PTI isn't of much significance.
Welcome to PTI Hashmi Saheb.
AWSOME NEWS.
Kindly d,not leave the pmln. u r proud of pmln. You should work for thier alliance for the betterment of the Pakistan
Javeed Hashmi is of the true positions in Pakistan who led the struggle at the time no one wanted to stand for PML N and what a shock how he was treated once PML N came in to power,he was totally sidelined in the part as his image in the party was growing Shrif brothers were threatened he might be in run for the presidency of the party .He has made the right decision to join PTI .
Dear sir Javed Hashmi Sahab we the youth of pakistan welcome you in PTI with all dew respact to you from the botum of our heart and soul.
who cares
wellcome in pti
i need Khwaja Saad Rafiq, Aitzaz Ahsan and A Q Khan.
Javed Hashmi has already joined PTI.. Big Set back for PML-N..
It's official - he has joined. Mubarak PTI!
On Dec 24th morning M Javaid Hashmi joined PTI announcing on arriving at MULTAN airport before departing to Karachi....A notable addition and another indication that there is going to be a SOUTHERN PUNJAB
he knows where he belongs to....PTI !!!
we witnessed the 70 tsunami lead by the then great ZAB and this time it is lead by a more dangerous i mean deadly status quo opponent IK, we can see it happening as more and more credible political stalworts joining in....its true history repeats itself...am optimistic about the way politics are changed by PTI. its only election which will put the final nail in the coffin of old tried tested misrabally failed parties' and puppet leaders.
If Javed Hashmi joins PTI this will create a chaos with in the PML-N wings. Possibly one of the biggest setback to PMN-L in its history. Javed Hashmi is not just a politician he is the man of dignity and character. My cousin is in PMN-L and according to him this news has shocked the PMN-L and has taken the ground below their feet. For Imran Khan this is a bigger wicket than Qureshi as now the southern belt will be covered by these two and PMN-L will be left by on central Punjab.
Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, please get him back.
@ zia
,bro plz dont call him oppertunist, he has served pakistan without any power but the power of people , time has to decide whether we want to change our fate or not. may god help us and show us the right path.
NAwaz Sharif Sahab, please get him back to the party, at whatever terms. He is one of the most important pillars of your party and the past president of your party when you were out of Pakistan. He has paid a heavy price of loyalty with the party. Go get him back
if he does join PTI would be a great addition and probably the biggest win for PTI so far i just hope he does end up joining we had enough of these 2 parties whom have ruined our country to pieces !! so its time to save it :)
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Javeed hashmi is a great politician, he should not be in pmln his place is PTI, where he can contribute much more.
we will welcome u , it will be an honour for PTI ,if u decide to join PTI.
Javed Hashmi was the biggest defender of democracy after the shareefs left pakistan! He spent 6 years in jail for the sake of democracy. The shareefs isolated this very man who i believe is the most talented politician in the PML-N. im pleased hes leaving because he has alot to offer to pakistan.
Hashmi's Joining To PTI will be a fresh & cool air blow....! Now hope people soon hear & read that Mian sahib call to Ch.Shujat, Zardari, Sheikhu, Altaf and Fazal Rehman to join PML-N... :)
So now we know what IK meant by CHANGE.... That is every old face would be changing his party with PTI.
@Zia: You are sadly mistaken or have vested interests. Any way wait for Karachi tsunami to see how leaders roll.
AWSOME AWSOME AWSOME NEWS.
Big news!!! Agree with the top most comment!!!
N sinks further.......... along-with P
I think this is great news for Imran Khan and the PTI. The admission of Javed Hashmi and Iftikhar Gillani to the party will help put to rest rumours of establishment support. Ultimately, the Sharif brothers have proven themselves to be failures and Hashmi didn't sign his life away to them so had every right, if not a duty to his own people, to leave.
Some members from PML-Q have joined PTI but we all know that these people are all trying to in on the act. From PTI's point of view, these "undesirables" who are now part of the party are also "electable" and so will help them get into power in the first place. PTI can make no reforms if it doesn't get into power and it needs these people of negotiable allegiances to win the rural vote.
I have not exactly been thrilled at PTI's new recruits, but Javed Hashmi would be a fantastic one!
so i am watching him live right now and reading this alongside. According to him, if PML N can accept Q ppl, why cant PTI. And he is almost on the verge of the decision to join PTI.
Can we get live feed of Shareefs, i wanna see their faces.
Cmon Hashmi sir, just do it.. plz come and join PTI for the sake of this country.
why not any one from MQM is joinging PTI. members from almost all parties have join PTI, Why not from MQM.
This is very good news for pakistan and also very good chance for javaid hashmi to do something for the sack of pakistan, pti plateform is is the best for javaid hashmi....nawaz,zardari tested...they are unable to lead the teams for public development....imran khan want to take pakistan in the line of successful where the european countries are running...imran khan is very hardworker and honest leader who always support married this is the sign of honesty with pakistan and success of pakistan is the success of islam.....
long live imran khan you are the pride of pakistan
GOOD NEWS FOR WELLWISHERS OF PAKISTAN , AS HASHMI IS HONEST AND SINCERE PAKISTANI POLITICIAN. PTI NEEDA PERSON LIKE HIM ,
Let's wait to see if any credence to this news.
All the rot from Q league is going to PTI. Somehow I don't see Hashmi in that sordid mix.
Javed Hashmi goes to PTI trusting the people power. NS/SS go to Pindi and also trying to reach our Arab brothrs.
Its people power vs ''Anokhay Ladlay''
No body has influence me more then this man, He is a Great and undaunted leader undoubtedly.Welcome in PTI
Please Sir... Go ahead and make your move. We all want to see another honest and upright leader in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf.
The end of Raiwind kingdom.......ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
N league is party for blame gamer like Hanif Abbasi and Ch Nisar...it is not for clean people like Javed Hashmi. Great decision by J Hashmi.
Awww pmln boys crying themselves to sleep. Hahahaha. You know what cry us a river im parched
Lads, It will be the greates news ever in our struggle to take pakistan back from lotters. Hope he will join PTI,We all love him even in Peshawar,He is gr8 man and will be backbone in PTI.Please join us please
Lol nawaz sharif ki wicket tho gai, and he wanted to play ten ten
If anyone "really" know Javed Hashmi then I am certain that he is not that man of character. If he leave the part he'll betray with his voters. For PTI it will be good news but I dont think this will create big dent in PML-N. For sure it will become a breaking news for couple of weeks maximum then all will be same as routine. PTI cant win elections as Imran Khan is not a leader. He just a opportunist guy with arrogance, ignorance and nincompoop all merged together.
next time we might hear that shahbaz sharif is joining PTI :P
N league is finished, the last and only credible guy left (IA) and turned off the lights...Back to Jeddah my Bald headed friends...
Good news, Javed Hashmi is a senior and devoted politician and has contribution for democracy in this country. He is one of the senior member of PML-N and has respect in the party. He must have realised like the others millions in Pakistan, that Tehrik Insaaf and Imran Khan can bring some change and prosperity in this country. I am sure other politicians will follow him for a better Pakistan.
I have just heard that Nawaz ShReef is going to supreem court to stop this act if hara keri He will ask the suprem court to revisit theirlast decision whereby mr hashmis's sentence was quashes and he became a free man
sympathies with the "poor soulS'(shareefs)...
@Kashif Iqbal: by fault i click on recommed on ur post. Will destroy Pakistan ?? Has Zardari and Nawaz Sharif left any thing to destroy ??? Kuch sharm karo ur jag jao... IMRAN KHAN ZINDABAD
BISMILLAH............
Waiting for Altaf Hussain to join PTI. Then I'll join MQM.
if this happens tomorrow then it would be the biggest set back to nawaz
This would be a huge loss for PML-N
hashmi karo elaan imran imran imran
Woooooo just wooooo #$#@%believable....Massive wicket by Imran Khan.......dang it ! Now it will shut down the mouths of the so called intellects that PTI is backed by establishment only. By this PTI has arrived ...surely arrived now!!! Imran Khan deadly inswingers has left PPP, PMLN, ANP reeling
This is going to b a biggest blast... PTI is well deserved place for people like Javed Hashmi..
Good news he does not deserve to be in corrupt party
If its true, it will be the official end of PML-N. Unofficial end was 30th October Lahore Jalsa!!
He should leave. He was not appreciated or treated well in PML-N.
If this will big biggest night mare for PMLN and it will give birth to sudden fall out of PMLN. Javed Hashmi is one thelot in politics who considers politics as worship. His honesty and struggle for democracy will always be remembered. If he switches side, then Mian sb party will face a clear down slide in their strength- the beginning towards end of the PMLN era.
A Sad Birthday Mian Sahab this year!
No surprise. someone was needed to crash the party.
He is one of the sincere most people PML-N has, if he joins PTI, that would be a breakthrough.
hahahaha.... PML N .... hahahahaha
Well if they are all "clean" then it is good news.
Now that would be a credible feather in PTI's cap.
Do Pakistanis still remember how PPPP Patriots were created? Each elected member on the PPP ticket from the S. Punjab had turened lota and joined King's Party. Is the history repeating itself? However, any backdoor deal from Hashami is not expected. He is one of the few leaders in Pakistan who did not surrender or run away from the tyrant military rule.
Khawaja sahib welcome to PTI, you shall be good addition.
The own leaders of PML N are saying that their leadership helped the current government in power and still what we are hearing is that they are still acting as a friendly opposition by not resigning from parliament. Can we trust this leadership to bring any change, the only option is PTI.
DONT hashmi Sahab Just DONT ditch the Party you belong to!
If this turns out to be true, hard time coming up for PLM N.
Javed Hashmi is a true rebel (baghi)!!!!......Hats of to him!!!!!
It is a shame that a man of character like Javed Hashmi went to jail for five years for the Sharif brothers who themselves ran away from jail!!!
Time for change has come....
Imran Khan Zindabad! Pakistan Zindabad! Everyone bring 10-20 of your friend's to the rally on Sunday... We are going to win Pakistan back from these thieves Zardaris & Sharifs... Pakistan Zindabad!
Mashallah new Thirdblock emerging despite the attempts by the liberal western elite on the payroll of the Western Media trying to portray anyone against status quo as a member of the taliban
I cant stop laughing thinking about the Sharif brothers
This guy is awesome!!
So the big news is almost certain to come.
the only right thing for PML N is to join imran Kahn in order to save the country
Javed Hashmi is the only clean and patriotic politician in the country I think. It'll be a great loss for PMLN if he joins PTI and will be a great achievement of PTI like wise. I hope kaptaan will have a good team after having Hashmi in his party then there'll be a great responsibility on the shoulders of PTI to take care of nation's hope of CHANGE.
YEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH PTI FTW!!!
of all the lotas going to PTI "men's room" Javed hashmi will be my biggest disappointment. Use some hashmi surma sir and clear ur vision. You are a senior member of PMl-N. this will be a bewafai.
Excellent news! Great addition to the team.
A sane politician like Javed Hashmi can't be a part of a group of lotaas and military supporters. If it happens, then the tsunami of Imran Khan will destroy Pakistan.
Javed Hashmi is one of the greatest politicians in Pakistan and is respected by all. Big win for PTI.