Lawmaker says he quit PTI because its slogan of change was unreal

PESHAWAR: Lawmaker Wajeehuzzaman has said he quit the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after realizing that Imran Khan's slogan of change and justice was unreal.

Talking to The News, the MPA from Mansehra district said that he spent more than one and a half year in the PTI after quitting the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and was now regretting his decision. "There is no ideology in the PTI. The promise of change and delivering justice is hollow," he alleged.

Wajeehuzzaman, who had joined the PML-N after quitting the PML-N before the 2013 general election, said he was hurt when certain PTI leaders alleged that he didn't vote for the PTI candidates in the Senate polls. "PTI's Azam Swati said he didn't want my vote. PTI Hazara division president Zar Gul advised me to vote for a particular candidate who didn't belong to the PTI. All this looked like a conspiracy. I voted for PTI's candidate for women reserved seat Dr Mehr Taj Roghani as she sought my vote," he recalled.

According to Wajeehuzzaman, he had been in politics for 21 long years and had built his reputation as a principled politician. "I fought against Nawaz Sharif, but he didn't get me de-seated or accuse me of selling my vote," he maintained.

He said credible people like Justice Wajeehuddin and Tasnim Noorani had left the PTI and Fouzai Kasuri who served the party selflessly for years had been sidelined. He said he worked hard to strengthen the PTI , but he didn't get the respect he deserved.

When asked about his choice of a weak party like the PML-Q as his next destination after having quit the PTI, Wajeehuzzaman opined that it had the potential to become stronger. "I am being contacted by well-meaning and credible people as they want to join the PML-Q. I am hoping my image would enable me to attract more people in the party," he added.

Wajeehuzzaman, who has been appointed provincial general secretary of PML-Q, said old acquaintances with the Chaudhry brothers of Gujarat and the fact that they gave him respect prompted him to join the PML-Q.