PDP rebel Ansari joins Sajjad Lone’s PC

A PDP rebel, Imran Reza Ansari, who has been declared “wilful defaulter” by a PSU bank, formally joined the People’s Conference (PC) of former separatist Sajjad Lone on Thursday.

Ansari, a Shia leader, and some of his relatives were recently declared wilful defaulters by the Punjab National Bank (PNB) for their outstanding loan amounting around Rs 32 crore.

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Lone, who was being backed by BJP for the chief minister’s slot, welcomed Ansari into the party and described it as an “emotional homecoming”.

“Ansari’s father, Late Molvi Ifthikar, was one of the founding members of PC along with my late father,” said Lone.

“Molvi Imran is a mass leader and will be a leading light in the caravan of change,” Lone added.

In an apparent name and shame exercise, the Punjab National Bank (PNB) recently issued an advertisement, declaring former minister in the Mehbooba Mufti government Imran Reza Ansari and his family members as “wilful defaulter” of loans to the tune of Rs 32 crore.