I am PML-N and will fight for sanctity of vote, says Javed Hashmi

MULTAN: In a widely expected move, veteran politician and former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Javed Hashmi announced rejoining PML-N in a public rally in Multan city on Friday.

“I don’t think I should announce rejoining PML-N for I am PML-N, yes, I left you for a brief period of time but I have accepted your leadership again,” said Javed Hashmi, who briefly left PML-N to join Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

He lauded Nawaz Sharif’s “struggle” for “sanctity of vote” after his disqualification and maintained that he supports PML-N’s lifelong leader’s fight for betterment of Pakistan.

“People call me baaghi (rebel) but I say that Nawaz Sharif is the one who is rebelling against those elements who wish to disrespect vote.. I am with you in this rebellion, in this war,” said Javed Hashmi

A long time PML-N loyalist, Hashmi’s move to leave PML-N and join PTI in 2011 had surprised all. He was elected the PTI president in 2013 intra-party polls and then in 2013 general elections, won from both the constituencies he contested from in Islamabad and in Multan from the platform of PTI.

However, he fell out of party’s favour after opposing publicly the party’s decision to hold mass protests against then PM Nawaz Sharif and subsequently resigned from both the party and the parliament.