Another PML-N stalwart jumps ship, joins ANP

PML-N sources stated there was contention between Musazai and the party leadership over tickets for the next polls

PESHAWAR: As Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) legislators from the National as well as the Punjab Assembly resigned from the party, another party member and PML-N’s former secretary information for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Nasir Musazai also jumped ship and joined the Awami National Party (ANP).

Musazai contested the last by-polls in NA-4 as a PML-N member and faced defeat at the hands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Arbab Amir Ayub. He also contested the general polls held in 2013. Party insiders stated Musazai was in contact with PTI but decided on joining ANP.

Sources in the PML-N stated that the contention between Musazai and the party was over tickets for the next general elections.



"There were speculations that the premier’s advisor Amir Muqam was likely to contest polls from the same constituency in next general polls. Even though not finalised, Musazai felt he was being sidelined," sources said.

“This could be the only reason why Musazai left PML-N since he feared he will not be awarded a party ticket to contest polls and besides Muqam, another candidate and probably the K-P governor’s close relative was also being considered for the party ticket to contest polls on the constituency,” a party senior leader told The Express Tribune.

The PML-N leader clarified that Musazai was a hardworking individual and a leading party member and the premier’s advisor would call on him whenever he visits the constituency.

“I wonder why he would not be given the party ticket since Muqam, during every project inauguration in the area, would tell people to vote for Musazai and consider him a party candidate for the 2018 polls,” he said adding that "probably the decision, for not awarding party ticket to Musazai, has come from the central leadership."



“I still remember during the by-poll campaign, Muqam would tell people voting for Musazai was just like voting him [Muqam] and in fact he was an active member at Muqam’s camp in the past,” he stated.

Musazai could not be contacted for his comment.

Muqam, however, stated that he too only learned that Musazai had quit party from social media. He further said that he had recently met the former secretary information at the PML-N house where he did not complain about anything.

ANP leadership confirmed the developments saying ANP provincial president and former K-P chief minister Amir Haidar Khan Hoti met Musazai and things were finalised.

“He has met the provincial president and he has joined us [ANP],” ANP provincial general secretary Sardar Hussain Babak told The Express Tribune. He added that Musazai was in contact with Hoti and the party will announce Musazai's joining later.