Disgruntled Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi took a significant step on Monday by approaching the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to register a new political party.
Abbasi, who had differences with the Nawaz-led party over the past year, submitted the necessary documents to the ECP’s office for the registration of his new political entity.
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The seasoned politician, who served as prime minister from August 2017 to May 2018, announced his intention to participate in the upcoming elections under the banner of his new party.
This move follows similar actions by prominent figures within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), such as Jahangir Tareen and Pervez Khattak, who have formed their own political parties along with numerous former PTI members.
Tareen launched his party, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), in June of the previous year, while Khattak established PTI Parliamentarians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) shortly after. These developments have seen a significant number of defections from their respective former parties.
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Abbasi had been hinting at the formation of a new party for some time, especially after his disagreements with PML-N’s top leadership. His decision not to contest the 2024 general elections is noteworthy, particularly given his resignation from party office following Maryam Nawaz’s appointment as senior vice-president and chief organizer last year.