GUJRAT: An MPA of the ruling PML-N from Gujrat is going to join the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) after his chances of getting a PML-N ticket in the general election turned bleak in the wake of delimitation of his constituency that has now been divided into three different constituencies of the Punjab Assembly by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

MPA Ashraf Deona who had defeated the former Punjab finance minister and senior PPP leader Tanveer Ashraf Kaira in PP 112 (Lalamusa) in 2013, has decided to leave the PML-N to join the PTI. His move as sitting MPA of the ruling party is said to be a major achievement of the PTI party in Gujrat district where some other major groups being led by PML-N lawmakers have been weighing the option of leaving their party for Imran Khan’s party.

In the upcoming election, Ashraf Deona will contest from PP-29, comprising Jalalpur Jattan town and rural union councils (UCs) located in its surroundings as well as those of Gujrat city. Five rural UCs of his previous constituency are now a part of PP-29 (previously known as PP-109).

Talking to Dawn, Mr Deona confirmed the reports of his possible joining the PTI, saying he had already held a meeting with the Punjab PTI president Aleem Khan and others to discuss his joining as well as the overall political situation in the district. However, he said he might announce the formal joining in a meeting with PTI Chairman Imran Khan probably on Tuesday on return of Mr Khan from Karachi.

Asked which constituency of the district has been offered to him by the PTI, he said the party had made a commitment regarding award of a ticket for PP-29 in which some of the UCs of his previous constituency were included and a large number of UC chairmen belonging to the PML-N would also join the PTI along him.

When asked about the reason of his leaving the PML N, Ashraf Deona who had been elected as an MPA for the first time in 2013 election, said all three MNAs of the PML-N from the district who had opposed him in the party were responsible for his decision.

However, it is learnt from the ruling party sources that Ashraf Deona’s PP-112 has actually been divided into various constituencies such as PP-33 (Lalamusa-Kharian) falling under NA-71, PP-30 (Kunjah) falling under NA-69 and PP-29 falling under NA-68 and none of three ruling party MNAs, namely Nawabzada Mazhar Ali (NA-68), Jaafar Iqbal Fatta Bhand (NA-70) and Abid Raza Kotla (NA-71) were in favour of adjusting Mr Deona in any of the provincial assembly constituencies falling in their NA seats.

The sources added that though quitting the PML-N by Ashraf Deona would not make any difference to the ruling party’s position in the district but it would definitely be termed an achievement of the PTI for the time-being as it would present the Deona’s move another feather in its cap and jolt to PML-N in Gujrat district.

Gujrat is considered an important political district of the region where the PTI could not dent the ruling PML N; however, Mr Deona’s move to the opposition party may follow joining of the PTI by another strong group of the Gujrat PML-N in the coming days with which the PTI leadership has been holding negotiations.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2018