Hashmi was on his way to the airport when several PML-N workers lied in front of his car at his residence to oppose his decision to join the PTI. Senator Pervez Rasheed, spokesperson Punjab government, told the media that the party had a 5-6 hour long meeting with Hashmi on the matter, forcing him to stay in the PML-N.
Sources told The Express Tribune that Hashmi was not taking calls from the executive leadership of the PML-N which was to arrive in Multan at 11am, under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, in attempts to convince Hashmi not to join the PTI. They added that Hashmi will also formally announce to join the party on December 25 during the PTI rally in Karachi. Fifteen more MNAs and around 25 MPAs from the PML-N are also said to be joining the PTI during the next two weeks.
Talking to media at the airport, Hashmi said that he has decided to join the PTI because he believes that its agenda is for the betterment of Pakistan. He said that it was his personal decision to join the PTI and he will not compel anyone else to do the same but will welcome all those who follow his decision.
After Hashmi’s announcement, three strong constituencies of Multan with NA-148 of Shah Mehmood, NA-149 of Hashmi and NA-151 of Sikandar Bosan have become a part of the PTI. Mehmood has also assured to win the NA-150 for the PTI.
MPA Shahid Mehmood Khan from Hashmi’s constituency also announced to join the PTI, immediately after Hashmi announced his final decision.
Hashmi, a remarkably popular figure, won three National Assembly seats in 2008 from Rawalpindi, Lahore and Multan. He eventually vacated two of those seats and kept NA-149, representing his native Multan. He is the third politician from Multan to join the PTI, first being Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi – Hashmi’s hometown political rival, and second was Sikandar Bosan.
Hashmi had earlier shown reservations over Chaudhry Nisar’s appointment as the parliamentary leader of the PML-N and it is believed that Hashmi had given his party an ultimatum that if his son-in-law Zahid Bihar Hashmi was not given a party ticket, he would join the PTI.
