Former Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) MNA Marvi Memon is to join Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N faction today (Sunday) after an official announcement made by Sharif’s political secretary.
Later, she will be awarded a national assembly ticket on one of two vacant seats, sources said.
Sharif’s Political Secretary Dr Asif Kirmani said that the PML-N president and Memon will hold a press conference on Sunday in this regard.
“Marvi will be accommodated in the main section of the PML-N instead of one of the wings and she will be made an MNA on one of two party vacated seats in the NA,” said a source in the party.
The sources also clarified that before the 18th Amendment, the law stated that vacated seats for women can only be filled by existing/standing lists of the candidates in the office of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which political parties had earlier deposited with them. However, after the Amendment, the party president of any political party has been empowered to include fresh names in the standing list for women’s seats.
A number of PML-N MNAs, including Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Anosha Rehman, convinced Memon to join the party, the sources said. They added that according to the party’s assessment, the media coverage given to Memon and her presence on social media networks had attracted the attention of youth, and the party had decided to utilise it.
The PML-N think-tank also considered the recruitment a sensible option due to fears over the deterioration of the party’s international and domestic image about women empowerment. Memon is considered to have some standing in the national and international community over women’s rights.
PML-N Deputy General Secretary Ahsan Iqbal said that it was premature to assign Memon a slot or to appoint her as an MNA; however, he added that Memon is a “born League worker”. He said that the party invited her to join the PML-N over her bold stances in the NA despite her association with the Musharraf government.
Asked about the future of utilising Memon’s popularity, particularly in Sindh, he said that it was premature to comment.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan had offered Memon party membership during a party rally earlier last year, which she had remained quiet about. According to a PTI official, a rift between Marvi and the PTI erupted over the party slot of information secretary. She refused to join the party when her conditions were not obeyed.
Memon remained unavailable for comment.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2012.
COMMENTS (31)
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i am very happy to join pnl n...best of luck marvi memon,
What a great disappointment... She seemed so much more smarter than that...
get your facts right people. she was rejected by pti cec. so she was not left with any other choice except pmln.
honorable marvi memon
You are a good debater and you have knowledge of politic . i think you have make your own party.you have removed your identification. some time i listen your message/debate . i feel you have some need from noon league.you have self stand for the betterment of Pakistan people
my name arfaxed 12 year old class eight faisalabad
All that glitters in not gold...After listening to how Marvi tried so hard to praise the esteemed Mian Nawaz Sharif...(with a shaky voice..knowing that she is going to be grilled by the press) it seems that she too has compromised on her principles...very disappointed in you Marvi
Now MARVI losses her CREDIBILITY .... She will REGRET her decision soon ...!!!!
Sinking ship like a sinking man will always reach for a straw.Both of them are history now.
Who cares?...We will still vote for Imran and PTI...The joining with Nawaz Mayfair Shareef does not change much...
@PakJam: Mind your language son
Well, forget about PTI or PML(N).. I think something good has happened for the better future of Pakistan.. If for nothing else, we have to give credit to Imran khan for bringing awareness in the nation and forcing other political parties to bring forward talented people.. Mere slogans wont do it this time.. Change is here!
Her decision makes me think twice if PML-N was still relevant for the future of Pakistan...but again what other choice she had after saying a big NO to Imran Khan's PTI
We are happy that you have taken the right decision of joining PML(N). The only party which is working sincerely for Pakistan is PML(N). Welcome Marvi.. You have written your name is the list of great leaders of PML(N) already!
i personnally feel sorry for MIAN NAWAZ SHARIF to accept the close aides of PERVEZ MUSHRAFF, Mian sb atleast show some grace by accepting a woman who had left no stone unturned to disgrace you in public
At last PML (Noora Group) have something to smile about! Good Luck to Marvi. You played Noora Sahib very well. Off course, after the departure of his father (waddey Shareef Sahib) the decision making is Noora group is in the hands of everybody except Norra Sahib himself!!!
i wish you best of luck Marvi,thats an excellent decision.
Good decision Marvi,PML-N is the only party that is making wise decisions on principles.best of luck
@Beatle: you have described very well
PTI fan club must be fuming with anger on this!
Good for Marvi. PML-N is not that bad. They are atleast better than PTI who is busy in collecting tried and tested politicians.
And Marvi , please dont mind PTI BABOOS. They dont have slightest idea of ground realities in Pakistan.
This is good decision, PMLN has been establishing itself as a force that can take stand on principles. They may have made some compromises on some issues but over all PMLN is doing fine. Good decision Marvi.
A mature decision by a wise woman. It is better to join an experienced political team that is willing to reform itself. PMLN has learned from past mistakes and willing to make amendments within their limitations.
Her father, Nisar Memon was brought in the lime light by a dictator - Parvez Musharaf, and she follows his footsteps by joining the remanents of another Dictator; Zia.
Well criticism apart, this decision was good for both Marvi and PML. Nawaz Sharif needs to end his extreme right image and show himself as a centrist and needs recruitment from Sindh. Marvi seems to provide both. And for those who will say Musharraf ki baqiyat wali nonsense, well it's politics. No one cares about principles, not even PTI (or PMLN and PPP). It's politics for Gods sake, everything goes with the flow.
At last, it was the breaking of those anti-horse trading laws (enacted during Musharraf govt, which Memon was part of) to pave the way for Memon to supersede other women waiting. Pathetic.
Lolzzzz.....I would sell my soul to Lucifer just to see the facial "reactionS" of the PTI trolls .
She got the offer letter from Imran khan to be having secretary of the part but she refused as all the land lords,jageerdars siasi mafis have joined PTI. Marvi decided to join PMLn as they have the best team in pakistan political parties,like Ch.Nisar,Saad Rafique,Ihsan Iqbal,Mehtab,Sirtaj aziz,Ishaq Dar,Zaiem Qadari,Hnif abbassi,Khurram Dastgeer, Zafar Jagra,mushid Ullah, Niyal Hashmi, Rana Sana Ullah,Gulfiqar Khossa,Shahbaz Shafir,and lot others.