Former opposition leader Raja Riaz joins PML-N

  Raja Riaz met with PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif  in London and announced to join PML-N

The seasoned politician and former leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Raja Riaz formally joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after meeting with the party’s supremo Nawaz Sharif in London on Saturday.

Talking to journalists before his meeting with the PML-N leadership in London, Riaz hinted at contesting the upcoming general elections from Faisalabad. He said that the matter would be discussed with the PML-N supremo and clarified, “It is not necessary that a decision [in this regard] is made today.”

Responding to a question, he said that PML-N had a large vote bank in Pakistan as people believe that the country was made by the party. He maintained that the PML-N supremo would be given a grand welcome upon return.

To another question, the former leader of the opposition said that elections are likely to take place around mid-February next year. During the meeting, Riaz expressed his confidence in Nawaz's leadership and joined the PML-N. Former Prime Minister Shehbaz, ex-finance minister Ishaq Dar and other leaders were also present during the meeting.

Riaz won a MNA seat on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ticket in the 2018 general election but the party terminated his basic membership for violating the party discipline. PTI formally expelled Riaz in August 2023. It is pertinent to mention here that Riaz had been a “jiyala” for 35 years. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader had jumped the ship and joined PTI in May 2016. 

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