DADU: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerges significantly stronger in Dadu district as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and candidate for NA-235 Rais Ahmed Khan abandoned the party and joined PTI on Monday. Reportedly, ‘disgruntled’ Rais announced to withdraw in favour of PTI candidates for NA-235 Karim Ali Jatoi and Sardar Ashiq Ali for PS-85 during a joint press conference held with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Liaquat Ali Jatoi at his residence in Naban Khan Lund village. The former MNA Rais has been considered as an influential political figure in the region due to his close political relationship with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president Shahbaz Sharif and ousted premier of the party Nawaz Sharif. While addressing the press conference, he said that he and his supporters would cast votes to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidates Jatoi and Sardar for national and provincial constituency, respectively. “I had been loyal to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for the last 25 years, but the leadership did not pay attention towards Dadu,” he said. Moreover, the chief of Jamani Bhand tribe and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) local leader Rais Nawaz Khan Bhand declared to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Other PTI leaders including Syed Zaffar Ali Shah, Mehbbob Khan lund and Saeed Ahmed Soomro were also present on the occasion. Furthermore, PPP leaders including Haji Hashim Khushik, Khamiso Khan, Haji Ibrahim Khushik and Haji Lal Khan Khushik joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf along with the support of their 3,000 tribesmen during a public gathering held by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in Jan Muhammad Khushik village in Dadu district. While addressing the gathering, Liaquat Ali Jatoi said that PPP has lost its base in Dadu, and the district has become ‘a fort of PTI’. While during a public gathering on Sita road, the father-in-law of former MNA Imran Zaffar Leghari, PPP leaders including AR Bughio and Rais Akbar Bughio shifted their loyalties from PPP to PTI under the leadership of Liaquat Ali Jatoi. Published in Daily Times, July 17th 2018.