Switching sides: PML-N welcomes new leaders into the party’s fold
Yahya Shah, Raja Liaquat parted ways with PPP
Yahya Shah, Raja Liaquat parted ways with PPP. STOCK IMAGE
GILGIT:
President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in Gilgit-Baltistan Hafeezur Rahman has hailed former Pakistan Peoples Party leader Syed Yahya Shah’s decision to join his party.
Speaking to The Express Tribune on Sunday, the regional president said Shah’s contributions to introducing democratic principles into the political system in G-B are unparalleled. “He will be a valuable addition to our party,” he added.
Earlier on Saturday, Shah had decided to change allegiances and join PML-N.
During a ceremony held in Nagar Valley to commemorate the death anniversary of the party’s founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Syed Yahya Shah, a senior PPP leader in the region, announced his decision to join the PML-N. Rahman was also present on the occasion.
“I have taken the decision in the interests of the people of Nagar, the people of G-B,” Shah said. “It is high time people stop perceiving parties on the basis of sects.”
Shah’s decision to quit PPP is likely to impact the party’s popularity in the region and radically alter the outcome of the upcoming legislative assembly elections in June.
Shah had led a revolution in 1968 against the Raja system in the then state of Nagar and was jailed, along with 30 others, for four years. He remained in prison for four years before Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto came into power and ordered the release of political prisoners and ordered the dissolution of Nagar State.
Subsequently, Shah became the first elected member of the then Northern Areas Council from Nagar.
Raja Liaquat Ali Khan, another senior PPP leader also followed in Shah’s footsteps and announced his decision to join PML-N. According to Khan, he was disappointed by the party leadership in G-B and was left with no option other than to quit.However, insiders believe Khan decided to join PML-N on the condition that the party would issue a ticket to him.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2015.
President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in Gilgit-Baltistan Hafeezur Rahman has hailed former Pakistan Peoples Party leader Syed Yahya Shah’s decision to join his party.
Speaking to The Express Tribune on Sunday, the regional president said Shah’s contributions to introducing democratic principles into the political system in G-B are unparalleled. “He will be a valuable addition to our party,” he added.
Earlier on Saturday, Shah had decided to change allegiances and join PML-N.
During a ceremony held in Nagar Valley to commemorate the death anniversary of the party’s founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Syed Yahya Shah, a senior PPP leader in the region, announced his decision to join the PML-N. Rahman was also present on the occasion.
“I have taken the decision in the interests of the people of Nagar, the people of G-B,” Shah said. “It is high time people stop perceiving parties on the basis of sects.”
Shah’s decision to quit PPP is likely to impact the party’s popularity in the region and radically alter the outcome of the upcoming legislative assembly elections in June.
Shah had led a revolution in 1968 against the Raja system in the then state of Nagar and was jailed, along with 30 others, for four years. He remained in prison for four years before Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto came into power and ordered the release of political prisoners and ordered the dissolution of Nagar State.
Subsequently, Shah became the first elected member of the then Northern Areas Council from Nagar.
Raja Liaquat Ali Khan, another senior PPP leader also followed in Shah’s footsteps and announced his decision to join PML-N. According to Khan, he was disappointed by the party leadership in G-B and was left with no option other than to quit.However, insiders believe Khan decided to join PML-N on the condition that the party would issue a ticket to him.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2015.