On Sunday, Waseem Qadir, an independent candidate backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who secured victory in Lahore’s NA-121, announced his decision to join Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Qadir, formerly the general secretary of PTI Lahore, announced after meeting with PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz in Lahore. It is noteworthy that Qadir had defeated PML-N’s Shaikh Rohai Asghar in the February 8 election.
However, PTI leader Hammad Azhar countered the move, claiming that Qadir had been abducted before declaring his allegiance to PML-N. The circumstances surrounding Qadir’s decision raised questions, adding a layer of complexity to the political dynamics in Lahore.
Moreover, reports suggest that around 18 to 20 independent candidates who secured National Assembly seats have expressed their willingness to support the formation of a coalition government led by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and PML-N.
These independent candidates, primarily from south Punjab, Balochistan, and Rawalpindi, are expected to join the PMLN-PPP coalition government. Both parties have reportedly approached several victorious independent candidates, with indications that more may formally join the coalition government in the National Assembly.
Senior leaders from PTI, however, dismissed these reports as baseless disinformation. They asserted that any National Assembly member supported by PTI would not switch allegiance to another party, emphasizing the perceived consequences faced by former chief ministers Pervez Khattak, Mehmood Khan, and other leaders who changed political affiliations. The evolving political landscape suggests ongoing negotiations and maneuvering as parties vie for support to shape the future government.
