The Election Commission of Pakistan has officially registered former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s new political party, ‘Awam Pakistan Party’, Express News reported. Attached to the registration notice was a notice confirming Abbasi as the convener and Miftah Ismail as the party’s general secretary. The commission also approved intra-party elections in Awam Pakistan held earlier this year. Awam Pakistan submitted the details of this election to the Election Commission on 26 June 2024. With the registration of Awam Pakistan Party, the total number of registered political parties in Pakistan is now 168. Earlier, several political figures joined the Awam Pakistan party in Rawalpindi. According to sources, 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). Along with his family and allies, he joined the Pakistan Awam Party under former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. The political change follows an earlier defection of the same kind. Sources further said that this shift changed Rawalpindi’s political environment. Besides, ten women leaders and councilors who were earlier associated with PML-N, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also announced their allegiance to Pakistan Awam Party. Women leaders include Zahida Parveen and councilors Saeeda Begum, Maira Begum, Rizwana Bibi and Arshi Begum. The political change follows the earlier defection of Chaudhary Sarfraz Afzal, another key figure from the Chaudhary family, to the Awam Pakistan party. These leaders have unveiled plans to hold a city convention in January where several other PML-N dignitaries are expected to join the party.
