Manzoor Wattoo quits PPP, formally joins PTI

LAHORE: Former chief minister of Punjab Mian Manzoor Wattoo has finally left Pakistan Peoples Party and officially joined the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

Manzoor Watto who has served as vice president of PPP in the past was formally invited by the key PTI leaders, Jehangir Tareen, Federal Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Punjab Senior Minister Aleem Khan, to join the ruling party.

In July 25 elections, Mr Wattoo violated the discipline of his former party (PPP) by contesting the polls as an independent candidate. However, the PPP didn’t take any disciplinary action against him.

He had reportedly struck a local seat adjustment with the PTI in a failed attempt to win.

Wattoo’s son, Khurram Jahangir Wattoo, and daughter, Rubina Shaheen, – both holding various PPP offices – had already embraced the PTI and contested the recent general election from its platform.

Jahangir Wattoo had been issued a ticket for PP-185 Okara, while daughter Rubina Shaheen had been given a ticket for PP-186 Okara.

Wattoo declared joining of Pakistan People’s Party on 29 May 2008 along with party members in Islamabad soon after winning a decisive victory in February 2008 elections in which he won from two constituencies NA-146 and NA-147 as an independent and his daughter Rubina Shaheen Wattoo won PP-188.

Wattoo served as Federal Minister for Industries and Production in the PPP government of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and in November 2009, after that he became Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas.

In 2012, his son, Khurram Jahangir Wattoo, who won NA-147 after his father left his home constituency was made the Parliamentary Secretary for Establishment and Cabinet Divisions by the PPP leadership.

In 2012,  President Asif Zardari made Mian Manzoor Wattoo as the Provisional President of the Pakistan Peoples Party Central Punjab.