Former opposition leader in NA Raja Riaz Ahmed Khan joins PML-N after meeting with Nawaz Sharif in London

LONDON, Sep 16 (SABAH): Raja Riaz Ahmed Khan, former leader of the opposition in the National Assembly (NA), joined Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after meeting with the party’s supremo and former prime minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and PML-N President and former prime minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in London, it emerged on Saturday.

During the meeting, Riaz expressed his confidence in Nawaz Sharif’s leadership and joined the PML-N. Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, ex-finance minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, former law minister Senator Chaudhry Azaqm Nazeer Tarar Advocate, Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, Ataullah Tarar, Muhammad Amjad Parvez Advocate and other leaders were also present during the meeting.

Talking to media persons along with Raja Riaz, Shehbaz Sharif said that Nawaz Sharif, he and party has welcomed Raja Riaz in PML-N, adding that in the result of joining of Raja Riaz, the PML-N will further strengthen.

Replying a question, Shehbaz Sharif said that the oil prices in Pakistan have increased due to the increase in oil prices at international market. He said that if Almighty Allah will give chance to Nawaz Sharif then the journey will be started from the position of 2017.

He said that regrettably the Supreme Court restored the NAB law enacted by a late dictator, adding that Imran Khan changed the NAB law two times through presidential ordinances to benefit his cronies, adding that where were Umar Ata Bandial at that time. He said that it is example of NAB-Niazi nexus. 

Talking to journalists before his meeting with the PML-N leadership in London, Raja 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. Replying a question, Raja Riaz said that if PML-N was fleeing the elections then Nawaz Sharif would have not been returning back to Pakistan. Raja Riaz said that he has already given the date of 15^th February for next elections, adding that the elections could be held one week earlier or one week later.

Nawaz Sharif— who has been in self-imposed exile in London since November 2019 owing to health reasons — was disqualified in 2017 by the Supreme Court for not declaring a receivable salary.

On September 12, former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif announced, “Nawaz Sharif will reach Pakistan on October 21.”

Raja 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.

“174 members have recorded their votes in favour of the resolution, consequently the resolution for the vote on no-confidence against Mr Imran Khan, the prime minister of Pakistan, has been passed by a majority,” Ayaz Sadiq announced after the process of voting was completed. 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.