PMLN leader Abbas Afridi quits party

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Abbas Khan Afridi on Tuesday announced parting ways with the ruling party, saying that its top leader Nawaz Sharif was no longer "relevant" in the country's politics, just a day after the former prime minister decided to become "active" in the country's political affairs.

The three-time former premier, who steered clear of the executive post for a fourth time following the February 8 general elections, is set to increase involvement in the "national politics", sources said.

However, Afridi was of the view that there was nothing much Nawaz could do as he doesn't have an "executive post", despite his return to the PMLN presidency last month.

"Nawaz Sharif's grievance with the nation was justified," he said, adding that the senior leadership of the party "didn't remain loyal" to the party president.

Joining the list of PMLN deserters, Afridi also expressed reservations on not being consulted over the military operation, Azm-e-Istehkam, announced by the government to root out militancy from the country in the wake of rising incidents of terrorism.

"No one is willing to listen to our stance. We gave a plan for economic restoration but no one is here to pay heed," he added.

He later sent his resignation to the PML-N leadership.

Afridi's disassociation with the Nawaz-led party comes just weeks after former PMLN leader Muhammad Zubair parted ways with the ruling party. Earlier, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and ex-finance minister Miftah Ismail also parted ways with the party.