Imran welcomes two PML-N MNAs into PTI fold

The MNAs were elected from ‘massively rigged’ constituencies in Punjab

ISLAMABAD: In what comes as a classic manifestation of political compromise, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf has taken into its fold two Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNAs who were elected from the constituencies in the 2013 polls which the PTI had claimed were “massively rigged”.

Soon after the last general elections, the PTI had shortlisted nearly a dozen National Assembly constituencies in Punjab claiming it had “valid proofs” and “glaring evidences” of rigging there and later took the matter to courts and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

But as the country goes to polls once again, the PTI owing to its desire for having the ‘most valuable players’ has decided to welcome those whom it had accused of unprecedented rigging.

The two lawmakers joining the PTI are Dr Nisar Ahmad Jutt and Tahir Bashir Cheema, who had won on PML-N’s ticket from NA-81 (Faisalabad) and NA-190 (Bahawalnagar) in 2013 respectively.

Interestingly, in May 2013 addressing a press conference, the then PTI Punjab chapter president Ejaz Chaudhry issued a list of 12 NA constituencies and claimed they had identified significant rigging instances there. While rigging in these two constituencies were also made part of a whitepaper the PTI had issued on alleged election rigging.

During a news conference, Chaudhry had also read out PTI chief Imran Khan’s message where Khan had requested the ECP and SC that “it should take rigging complaints seriously because the future of the country as well as democracy depend upon free and fair elections”.

PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry in his short comment over the situation said, “Politics is like a river and it continues to flow. It’s 2018 now. PTI’s allegations of rigging have already been discussed at different forums including a judicial commission. It’s time to move forward.”

However, a senior party leader wishing to remain anonymous said old timers in the party were not only perturbed over the great influx of tainted politicians in the party but also continued to share reservations with the senior leadership.