Switching loyalties: Lawmaker ditches PML-N, joins PTI

"I congratulate Imran Khan over addition of another spoiled egg to his basket," Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid

ISLAMABAD:

Lawmaker Aijaz Ahmed Chaudhry on Saturday bid farewell to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and joined the ranks of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

His defection, which came hours ahead of PTI’s ‘decisive’ rally in the federal capital, is hailed as a victory by the protesting party, but the ruling party wasted no time in raising corruption allegations over Chaudhry.

“I have decided to resign from my NA seat,” Chaudhry said. “I have handed over my resignation letter to Imran Khan and joined his fight against corruption.”

He was addressing the media along with PTI chief and other senior party leaders who were present at Chaudhry’s residence to celebrate his decision to join the party.

“The incumbent government has failed to facilitate the masses,” said Chaudhry, citing the reason behind his decision to quit the ruling party.

Speaking on the occasion, Imran claimed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has doled out key posts to his relatives instead of deserving MNAs of the party.

Information Minister Senator Parvaiz Rashid, while commenting on the resignation of Chaudhry, said that, “Aijaz Chaudhry will not be able to shield himself from being convicted in fake degree case.”

“I congratulate Imran Khan over addition of another spoiled egg to his basket,” he maintained and added the apex court might take a decision about Ijaz’s stay order in coming weeks.


Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2014.