Waseem Qadir, the candidate supported by Imran Khan‘s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, who emerged victorious in Lahore’s NA-121 constituency, has officially aligned himself with Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (N), according to reports from Geo News. In a video shared by PML-N, Qadir, alongside PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz, declared, “I have come back to my home.”
Confirming the move, PML-N labeled Qadir as “the successful independent candidate from National Assembly Constituency NA-121 Lahore.”
The shift comes after initial identification by PTI as their supported candidate, later corrected to an independent status following a deleted post and subsequent update, as reported by Geo News.
Qadir’s victory in NA-121 was over PML-N’s Sheikh Rohail Asghar.
In response, PTI leader Barrister Gohar Khan emphasized the electorate’s rejection of political turncoats during the February 8 elections, informing Geo News of PTI’s scrutiny into Qadir’s defection: “The rest of the independent candidates are in touch with us and will stay with us only.” Following the 2024 general elections, a flurry of political activity has ensued as parties vie to form the next government. With most National Assembly results in, a complex political landscape has emerged.
Independent candidates, largely supported by PTI, secured 93 seats, while PML-N and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) claimed 78 and 54 seats, respectively. Despite PTI’s self-assured stance on forming a majority government, coalition considerations are underway in key regions.
Concurrently, PML-N is engaged in talks with representatives from PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), shaping potential alliances and future governance strategies.
The 2024 elections marked a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s political narrative, characterized by records set in various electoral metrics. Despite delays and controversies in result declaration, attention now shifts to PTI’s decisions regarding its affiliated candidates, given their numerical advantage in the current assembly configuration.