The Election Commission of Pakistan has officially registered former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s new political party, ‘Awam Pakistan Party’, Express News reported.
The registration announcement was accompanied by an announcement confirming Abbasi as the convener and Miftah Ismail as the party’s general secretary.
The commission has also approved the intra-party election of Awam Pakistan which was held earlier this year. Awam Pakistan submitted the details of these elections to the Election Commission on 26 June 2024.
With the registration of Awam Pakistan Party, the total number of registered political parties in Pakistan now stands at 168.
In the past, several political figures have joined the Awam Pakistan party in Rawalpindi.
According to sources, a prominent landowner and head of the influential Chaudhary family, Chaudhary Inam Zafar, has ended his 40-year association with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
He, along with his family and allies, has joined the Awam Pakistan Party under the leadership of former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
The political change follows an earlier defection of the same kind.
Sources further said that the shift has changed the political landscape of Rawalpindi.
In addition, ten women leaders and councilors, formerly associated with the PML-N, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have also announced their allegiance to the Awam Pakistan Party.
The women leaders include Zahida Parveen and councilors Saeeda Begum, Maira Begum, Rizwana Bibi and Arshi Begum.
The political switch follows an earlier defection of Chaudhary Sarfraz Afzal, another key figure of the Chaudhary family, to the Awam Pakistan Party. These leaders revealed plans to organize a town rally in January where several other important PML-N figures are expected to join the party.
