The Election Commission of Pakistan has officially registered former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s new political party, the Awam Pakistan Party, according to a report by News.
The registration was accompanied by a notification designating Abbasi as the convener and Miftah Ismail as the General Secretary of the party.
The Commission also approved the intra-party elections of Awam Pakistan, which were conducted earlier this year. The party submitted details of these elections to the Election Commission on June 26, 2024.
With the inclusion of the Awam Pakistan Party, the total number of registered political parties in Pakistan has reached 168.
In Rawalpindi, several prominent political figures have already joined Awam Pakistan. Sources reported that Chaudhary Inam Zafar, a prominent landowner and head of the influential Chaudhary family, ended his 40-year association with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to join Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s leadership. He was joined by his family and allies, signaling a major political shift in the region.
The move follows an earlier defection of a similar nature. According to sources, this political realignment has significantly reshaped Rawalpindi’s political landscape.
Additionally, ten female leaders and councillors, previously affiliated with the PML-N, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have also announced their support for the Awam Pakistan Party.
The women leaders include Zahida Parveen and councillors Saeeda Begum, Maira Begum, Rizwana Bibi, and Arshi Begum.
This political transition mirrors a prior defection by Chaudhary Sarfraz Afzal, another key member of the Chaudhary family, to the Awam Pakistan Party.
These leaders have announced plans to organise a city convention in January, where several other notable PML-N members are expected to join the new party.
