February 27, 2008	Wednesday	Safar 19, 1429

OKARA, Feb 26: Two independent MPAs-elect of former Punjab chief minister Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo’s group have defected to the PML-N without the consent of their group leader.

Mr Wattoo had contested for NA-146 and NA-147 as an independent candidate and won both seats.

Malik Ali Abbass Khokhar from PP-192 and Mian Muhamad Moeen Khan Wattoo from PP-193 were elected independent MPAs with the support of Mian Manzoor Wattoo.

With the defection of Mr Khokhar and Mr Moeen Wattoo to the PML-N, the `parliamentary power’ of Manzoor Wattoo is likely to be weakened.

Another independent MPA-elect from PP-185, Rai Faroq Omar Kharl, has also joined PML-N. Omar Kharl is the son-in-law of ex-MPA Rai Noor Muhammad Kharl who had been adviser to Mian Manzoor Wattoo during his chief minister tenure.

After the joining of these three MPAs-elect into PML-N, the number of PML-N provincial assembly members in the district has risen to four out of a total of nine slots.