ZULFIQAR AHMAD

ISLAMABAD: The recent visit of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa failed to yield any result as he lost an old party guard, Noor Alam, a former MNA to rival Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Noor Alam who had been contesting elections from NA-III (Peshawar) on PPPP ticket for the last several years finally announced to join the bandwagon of Imran Khan. He said that the party, with which he had been associated for so long, changed altogether after the tragic assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

Alam who was often seen calling himself as ‘the foot soldier’ of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, said that the reason which compelled him to join the PTI was the charismatic leadership of Imran Khan, as he is a man of his word.

He said that the reforms which the PTI has introduced in the province within a short span of four years, are admired by both friends and foes as there is no discrimination in allocation of funds to elected representatives whether one belongs to PTI or not.

“This is what motivated me to join the PTI as this is the only party which has given the best local government system to its people in the province. Things are being streamlined and the people are satisfied with the party under the leadership of Imran Khan,” he declared.

Speaking on the occasion, Imran Khan welcomed Noor Alam Khan in the PTI and said many PML-N lawmakers are also in touch with him and want to join PTI as soon as possible.

Noor Alam claimed he was part of a reformist group that was opposing corruption but now all of them, including Chairman PPPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, have been sidelined.

Noor Alam said those who served as ministers in the PPPP government and minted money have again been preferred and given prominence by the party leadership. He said politics cannot be done in drawing rooms and one would have to adopt a clear-cut stance on every issue.