Former district nazim Fida Muhammad quits PML-N, joins PTI

BATKHELA: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) struck a major blow to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ahead of the local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the latter’s provincial vice-president Fida Muhammad announced joining the Imran Khan-led party on Sunday.
Fida Muhammad made the announcement at the Bani Gala residence of the PTI chairman in Islamabad just when the media was waiting for the decision of the PTI Central Executive Committee on the formation of the Judicial Commission and its return to the National Assembly.
Talking to The News, Fida Muhammad said his decision was not based on the perception that the PTI would win the local government elections as it was in power in the province. He said he made the decision because he was upset with the way the PML- N was being run in KP. “I have decided to go for the change. I believe that only Imran Khan and PTI can bring real change in the country,” he stressed.
Fida Muhammad move to join the PTI is seen as a strategic success for the party due to his extensive experience in local government elections. He served for five years as district nazim of Malakand Agency. His brother, Nisar Malakand, is an incumbent senator from PML-N and has contested elections for the provincial assembly and National Assembly seats thrice.
Sources in the PTI said that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and PTI secretary general Jehangir Tareen had played a key role in persuading Fida Muhammad to join the PTI.
On the occasion, some office-holders of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and PML-N also announced joining the PTI. They included former UC nazim Muhammad Ibrahim, former Tehsil president Pir Zahir Shah, Riaz Khan naib nazim, Raziq Shah former naib nazim, Gul Zaman, Muhammad Tariq, Member Provincial Council PML-N, Naseem Gul former president PML-N Dargai, Bacha Rahim.