Longtime PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry recently approached both the PPP and PML-N in order to make a switch, but was denied the request by both, according to a report by 24 News.
The former ruling party leader was reported to have made separate contacts with the two parties, but the request wasn’t granted, it said.
It went on to add that both the parties had reservations on inducting Imran Khan’s close aide to the fold.
Another TV channel, PNN, quoted PPP leader Faisal Karim Kundi and PMLN’s Irfan Siddiqui confirming the report.
Fawad Chaudhry is known to be a staunch supporter of the PTI chief and a stern opponent of the said parties, who he has regularly accused of misappropriating public money and causing harm to the national interest.
On Feb 1, a court in Islamabad approved Fawad’s bail in the aforesaid sedition case. He was accused of “threatening” the members of the Election Commission and Punjab, KP governors during a presser.
He was subsequently arrested from his residence in Lahore on Jan 25 after a case was registered against him at Islamabad’s Kohsar Police Station.
Approving the plea, Additional Sessions Judge Faizan Gillani had said that the request was granted on a conditional basis, saying Fawad should not make such remarks in the future.
The party stalwart was taken into custody after his statement that the governors will be put on trial under Article 6 for their failure to announce a date for the elections as enshrined in the Constitution, and that those at the helm will be given an exemplary punishment and chased to their homes for their doing.
In a backlash the same day to Fawad’s arrest, ex-Premier Imran Khan asked the ECP to explain as to what made the basis of their decision to choose Mohsin Naqvi and reject other nominees for caretaker Punjab CM.
This decision, the PTI chief maintained, showed that the electoral authority was ‘in no mood’ to conduct elections.
“The first and foremost responsibility of Election Commission is to hold free and fair elections,” he had said.
According to Imran, Naqvi had been brought in as part of a plan to silence him, as he raised questions on the impartiality of the caretaker setup ahead of elections in the province.
Q league has not been checked out by Fawad Ch. it would be a good fit for him.