First PTI wicket falls as Waseem Qadir, who won on 8th Feb, joins PML-N.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed independent candidate Waseem Qadir, who had won the February 8 elections from the Parliament National Assembly in Lahore, has announced joining the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
In a video statement released by the Nawaz Sharif-led party, Qadir could be seen with PML-N leaders — including Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz — and saying that he’s “back home”.
The loss of the Lahore seat, which Qadir won by defeating PML-N’s Sheikh Rohail Asgher by a margin of more than 8,000 votes, is a major setback for the PTI as the PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have already said that they’ll be seeking the support of independent candidates for coming into power.
“I am Waseem Qadir. I was PTI’s Lahore secretary-general. I have returned to my home,” the ex-PTI leader said, who is the first elected member to desert the party post-elections.
“For the development of my constituency and my people, I have joined Muslim League-Noon again,” Qadir said.
The party of former prime minister Nawaz is second with 79 seats after Thursday’s vote, lacking a clear majority but it is the largest single party in parliament as Imran Khan-backed independents ran as individuals.
Following the election results, both PTI and PML-N declared victory, adding to the uncertainty as the country faces numerous urgent challenges, including negotiating a new International Monetary Fund programme to keep a struggling economy afloat.
A prime ministerial candidate has to show a simple majority of 169 seats in the National Assembly when the house is called in the coming days. This will be determined by coalition talks and whether Khan-backed candidates are able to join a smaller party in parliament to form a single bloc to gain reserve seats.
