Former PPP leader Senator Babar Awan on Friday formally announced that he is joining the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).
"I part ways with the PPP after a long-standing membership of 21 years," Awan said during an iftar party held at his residence where PTI leadership were the main guests, according to DawnNews.
"I left my ministry in pursuit of justice. Even leaving the Senate to join PTI was a challenge," said the former federal law minister, who submitted his resignation to Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani on Thursday.
"If my agenda held firm then I would have remained in the Senate till 2018," Awan noted.
"People told me Imran Khan is an honest man with integrity."
"It is now time for Pakistanis to gather together and seek justice and demand their rights," he added. "Change won't come sitting at home."
"People told me Imran Khan is an honest man with integrity. Pakistanis need to help PTI win the required two-thirds majority in the parliament." Awan asserted.
"The next prime minister will be none other than Imran Khan."
PTI Chairman Imran Khan welcomed Awan to the party and took note of how the political climate is changing across the country. "The status quo is withering away," he said at the iftar dinner.
"Countries which have progressed have done so because their leaders strengthened their institutions," the PTI chief said. "Our institutions were destroyed to facilitate corruption and money laundering," he claimed.
Highlighting the Panama Papers case proceedings, Khan claimed, "The most important case in the country's history is currently in the Supreme Court, and the court has declared all institutions as obsolete."
Lauding Awan's decision to swap allegiances, the cricketer-turned-politician said, "Standing up to a mafia is no easy task. Time will tell that Babar Awan made the right decision."
Responding to a question regarding Khan's earlier decision to invite Awami Muslim League Chief Shaikh Rashid to join the PTI Khan said, "I leave it up to Shaikh Rashid to decide whether he wants to join Tehreek-i-Insaaf."
