By Shabbir Mir in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2015.
GILGIT: A senior leader of Awami National Party in Gilgit-Baltistan joined Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Sunday, boosting the ranks of the latter ahead of June 8 elections.
“My decision to join PML-N reflects acceptance for Nawaz Sharif’s policy for this region,” said Advocate Aurangzeb Khan during a ceremony at the PML-N Secretariat in Gilgit. He promised to work for the betterment of the people under the leadership of PML-N regional chief Hafizur Rehman.
Khan is a practising lawyer who had joined ANP before the elections in 2009. Since he is a resident of Jaglot Sai, many elders of various tribes from the area supported his move, saying they will also support PML-N G-B chief Rehman as they believe he can pull G-B out of crisis.
Rehman welcomed Khan in the party, saying the infusion of new blood into the party will help achieve its targets. “Khan is a seasoned politician and an active political worker whose experience can benefit the party in future.”
Khan’s defection to PML-N means ANP has lost its lone candidate and hence its significance in the region.
The move has come days after Pakistan People Party’s Agha Foker and the lone ranger of Muttahida Qaumi Movement in G-B Raza Azam left their parties to join PML-N.
Last month, one of PPP G-B’s founding members, Yahya Shah, and senior members of the party’s ulema wing switched their parties’ affiliations. The legislative elections in G-B are scheduled to be held on June 8 and the inclusion of Khan has strengthened the position of PML-N.http://tribune.com.pk/story/884163/jumping-ship-anps-aurangzeb-khan-switches-to-pml-n/
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