Javed Hashmi (left) with Imran Khan as he announces joining the Tehreek-e-Insaf party, during a press conference in Karachi, yesterday.
Islamabad: Veteran politician Javed Hashmi yesterday quit the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) headed by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan. Hashmi's decision gave a jolt to the PML-N, the country's main opposition party led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, which leads the opposition in the National Assembly and is in power in Punjab.
Hashmi, who was in jail for several years during the regime of former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, had won a seat in the National Assembly from Rawalpindi near Islamabad in the 2008 general election and defeated former minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmad in his stronghold.
Announcing the switch-over at a news conference in Karachi, capital of southern Sindh province, Hashmi said he and Imran Khan had similar ideologies.
Welcoming Hashmi into the party, Khan said the veteran politician has not placed any condition on joining the party. "This is an ideological revolution that he has joined," said the rising new star in Pakistan politics.
No conflict
Hashmi said that every party first condemns the establishment, but eventually ends up asking for its help, adding that the time had come for the emergence of parties that do not need the establishment's backing.
Hashmi clarified that he had no conflict with his former party's leadership and respected them. He announced that like him, his daughter Maimoona Hashmi was also resigning from her National Assembly membership.
Former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Quraishi, who recently quit the Pakistan People's Party and joined PTI, was also present at the Karachi news conference. Both hail from the southern part of Punjab.
No conflict
Hashmi said that every party first condemns the establishment, but eventually ends up asking for its help, adding that the time had come for the emergence of parties that do not need the establishment's backing.
Hashmi clarified that he had no conflict with his former party's leadership and respected them. He announced that like him, his daughter Maimoona Hashmi was also resigning from her National Assembly membership.
Former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Quraishi, who recently quit the Pakistan People's Party and joined PTI, was also present at the Karachi news conference. Both hail from the southern part of Punjab.
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