rawalpindi - The ruling party has started tireless efforts to win by-election in PP-7 Rawalpindi, the constituency that fell vacant after the death of PTI MPA Siddique Khan, the younger brother of MNA Ghulam Sarwar Khan.
In a recent development, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has succeeded in winning the loyalty of recently elected PTI Chairman Raja Sajid Hamid and Vice Chairman Chaudhry Gull Nawaz Ali Khan from Union Council # 93, Ranyal.
The minister also announced to release Rs 15 million development fund for UC-93 during a meeting with both PTI leaders. The meeting was held at Punjab House and was kept secret from media, reliable sources disclosed to The Nation yesterday.
Sources said that during the meeting, both the PTI leaders showed their consent to quit PTI and join PML-N. They said that some 40 to 50 party men also went Punjab House to meet Chaudhry Nisar. Raja Sajid Hamid, when contacted, confirmed that he along with vice chairman and other party men met Chaudhry Nisar at Punjab House where the minister announced to release Rs 15 million development funds for UC # 93.
Responding to a query Raja said, “Neither did I express my consent to join PML-N, nor did the minister ask me to join his party,” he said.
However, sources and some local politicians interviewed by The Nation confirmed that Raja Sajid Hamid and his vice-chairman have joined PML-N. They said that Sheikh Aslam, private secretary of Ch Nisar, Jabir Gardawar and Pappu Patwari played vital role to convince PTI leaders to meet Ch Nisar. They said that Sajid assured Nisar during the meeting that he and his voters would support PML-N candidate Umar Farooq in the upcoming by-polls.
PTI Secretary Information Naeem Ul Haq did not pick his cell phone when this scribe phoned him to get his version.