LAHORE – Senior politician Makhdoom Javed Hashmi has announced his withdrawal from NA-149 elections and launched a movement for the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.
Javed Hashmi was a leader of the Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and later joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) before parting ways.
Later, Javed Hashmi expressed support for the PML-N once again, but after the arrest of PTI’s founder and chairman Imran Khan and anti-PTI actions, he once again began voicing support for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Addressing a press conference at his residence, Javed Hashmi stated that while being anti-establishment, he placed his political weight behind the movement of Tehreek-e-Insaf and Imran Khan. He mentioned that whenever someone fights on the front, he supports them, citing his support for Nawaz Sharif when he was being ousted from elections in 2018.
“Today, I am making efforts to stand with Imran Khan, who is facing removal from politics after the NA-149 elections,” said Hashmi. He also tweeted his stance on X.
اینٹی اسٹیبلشمنٹ ہوتے ہوئے اپنا سیاسی وزن تحریک انصاف اور عمران خان کے پلڑے میں ڈالتا ہوں اور الیکشن سے دستبردار ہوتا ہوں۔
— Javed Hashmi (@JavedHashmiJH) January 22, 2024
In response to Javed Hashmi’s tweet, senior PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal commented, “It has been proven that the world is round,”.
ثابت ہوا کہ دنیا گول ہے! 😜 https://t.co/STrTyHI6h3
— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) January 22, 2024
Makhdoom Javed Hashmi had said that whenever there is a front, he aligned his political weight with Tehreek-e-Insaf and Imran Khan’s cause. He had announced that after today, he would not ask for votes in his constituency but will strive for the release of Imran Khan.
Hashmi had also declared that all political parties should demand the release of Imran Khan, stating that these elections are not entirely free and fair until Imran Khan openly contests them. He emphasized that he is not making efforts to gain anything for himself but is only trying to raise the voice for Imran Khan’s release throughout the country. He said that he would not become a part of Imran Khan’s rule; instead, he would only raise the call for his release across the country.
