'Nawaz Sharif' joins PTI over losing importance in PML-N

NAROWAL - Angry with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over being sidelined, Mian Nawaz Sharif on Saturday joined arch-rival political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Sharif, who has the same name as the party's 'Quaid for life' former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, is a local leader of the embattled PML-N from Narowal.

The estranged leader said that he reached this decision as he was upset over the behaviour of party leadership with the workers, Channel 24 reported.

On April 9, in a devastating blow to the embattled PML-N, as many as eight legislators announced to leave the party to advocate the cause of South Punjab and demand a new province.

Addressing a press conference along with his fellows, Khusro Bakhtiar expressed that there was a need for new provinces to decentralise power and authority.

Bakhtiar, who hails from Rahim Yar Khan and had won the 2013 elections from NA-194, mentioned that the aim of the group was to create South Punjab province and the new "Mahaz" would be headed by Balkh Shair Mazari.

Lawmakers addressing the media'While basic facilities were not being provided, we are busy establishing Metro Train project' lamented the lawmaker.

"The demarcation of new provinces will guarantee that funds allocated for Rajanpur are not handed over to Multan. All we want is equality amongst the regions," he added.

Khusro Bakhtiar claimed that they were relinquishing their positions for the establishment of a new province decrying that the rate of poverty in South Punjab was as high as 51 percent.

On April 7, the PTI gave another jolt to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz' ranks as minority lawmaker Ramesh Kumar of ruling party joined PTI.