PML-N's Irfanullah Marwat and PTI's Nadir Akmal Leghari join PPP

Move comes after the two met PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari at Bilawal House

KARACHI: In a strange development, former Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Irfanullah Marwat and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Nadir Akmal Leghari are said to have jumped ship to join the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The move came after they met the party's co-chairperson, Asif Ali Zardari, at Bilawal House – Marwat on Friday afternoon and Leghari on Thursday evening. Bilawal House has yet to issue a statement but the two leaders made the announcement before media personnel.

Marwat has held numerous portfolios in the Sindh government since 1989, including transport, health, home, education and mines and minerals development.



In the 2013 general elections, he was elected from PS-144 on the party ticket of PML-N but the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leadership filed a petition against him, leading to his disqualification. The seat is still vacant and re-polls have not been held yet. Marwat told the media that he had become fed up with PML-N policies and hence met the PPP leadership, in whom he has complete trust.

Leghari had joined the PTI after bidding farewell to the PML - Quaid in 2010 and was elected as president of its Sindh chapter, a post currently held by MNA Arif Alvi.

Leghari, who contested the elections from Ghotki, was side-lined by the party due to its various factions in Sindh and was absent from party programmes. He served as the provincial irrigation and power minister from 2002 to 2007 during the PML-Q-led provincial government.

On Wednesday evening, Nabil Gabol, who left PPP for the MQM in 2013, rejoined the party after a brief meeting with Zardari.



Party sources have hinted that a few other leaders of different political parties will be joining the party and said the PPP would emerge as one of the biggest parties in upcoming elections.