*SLAMABAD:* Sheerazi group belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz(PML-N) and some other lawmakers in Sindh, including Arbab Ghulam Rahim,are in contact with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and may join theparty in the coming days.

According to party sources, the Sheerazi group first developed differenceswith the PML-N’s central leadership when their candidate was ignored forappointment as Sindh governor in February last year.

Head of the group Syed Shafqat Shah Sheerazi had emerged as a strongcontender for the post of Sindh governor. Shafqat has long been regarded asone of the ‘kingmakers’ in rural Sindh politics, particularly Thatta andthe adjoining belt.

The group that includes PML-N MPAs Shah Hussain Shah, Aijaz Hussain ShahSheerazi, independent MPA Amir Haider Shah Sheerazi and independent MNAAijaz Ali Shah Sheerazi (namesake of MPA Aijaz Ali Shah Sheerazi)extensively lobbied for Shafqat’s nomination as Sindh governor.

However, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif preferred Muhammad Zubair toany candidate from rural Sindh, which caused differences between theSheerazis and the PML-N leadership.

“Since then, the Sheerazis had been waiting for the right time to part ways[with the ruling party]. This is the best time,” said a PML-N lawmaker,requesting anonymity. He said the Sheerazis were earlier assured that theircandidate would be replaced with then governor Ishratul Ebad when the PML-Ncame into power in 2013.

In November 2016, after Ebad left the office, Justice (retd) Saeed-uz-ZamanSiddiqui was made governor while ignoring Shafqat. In January 2017,Siddiqui died and Zubair was appointed governor the next month, withShafqat ignored again, according to insiders.

Sources said that MNA Ramesh Kumar, who left the PML-N to join the PTI afew days back, had been tasked by the PTI leadership to woo dissidentlawmakers from political parties, the PML-N in particular. Apart fromSheerazi, members of Malkani and Abro families who are presently affiliatedwith Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) are also in contact with the PTI, theyadded.

When contacted, Shah Hussain Shah Sheerazi denied that his family was incontact with the PTI.

“We are with the PML-N right now and we haven’t been approached by anypolitical party with invitation to join them. When the time comes, we’llsee what to do.