RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) members have shown resentment towards the authorities for not including their elected members from Rawalpindi in the decision-making process.

This complaint came to light as the administration in the garrison city decided to engage the leaders from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) who were defeated in the general elections, instead of involving the elected members of National Assembly (MNAs) belonging to PTI, from that region.

According to PTI office-bearers, there is also a need to keep intact the voters and supports of the party in Rawalpindi.

PTI has also been showing concerns over the growing resentment among party workers who have been left at the mercy of rival politicians.

To counter the influence of other parties, PTI has decided to open ‘Khidmat Centres’ in Rawalpindi, which will be inaugurated by party’s head, Imran Khan.

“Nobody consults Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf lawmakers in Rawalpindi on any issue. We cannot give relief to our workers, as the uplift packages for our MNAs and MPAs have been diverted to PML-N’s projects. By next week, Imran Khan will be here in Rawalpindi and would open Khidmat Centres for resolving the issues faced by the constituents,” Tariq Kiani, vice-president PTI Punjab, told Dawn on Sunday.

He said Mr Khan, who represented NA-56 constituency, would highlight the problems faced by the residents of Rawalpindi on the floor of the house. He also regretted that discriminatory treatment was being meted out to PTI lawmakers and supporters in Rawalpindi.

Some PTI leaders have also complained that the district administration has taken onboard PML-N leaders on law and order situation and other issues, including Hanif Abbasi, Malik Shakil Awan and Sardar Nasim; all of whom, they said, had been defeated by PTI candidates in the general elections.

They said the multi-billion rupee Metro Bus Project, which would run through NA-55 and NA-56 both represented by PTI, was being handled by defeated PML-N leaders with elected lawmakers having no chance to voice their opinion or reservations of local traders and residents.

“In this scenario, we have conveyed our concerns to the party chairman, Imran Khan, and he would soon inaugurate various centres in Rawalpindi where the attendants would share grievances of the people with the concerned government departments, and would get the job done by hooks or by crook,” Irfan Mirza, senior PTI leader told Dawn.

However, some Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf leaders blamed their own party office-bearers for being the reason behind the woes of party workers, arguing that the key office-bearers of the party in Rawalpindi were outsiders and thus were unable to focus on local issues.

“Our district in-charge, Arif Abbasi, belongs to Muzaffarabad and his residence is in PP-6 constituency (Rawalpindi airport area) while he represents PP-13 area, which is quite contrary. Similarly, Tariq Kiani’s residence is in F-10 in Islamabad and he has been given the affairs of Rawalpindi,” an old PTI worker said on condition of anonymity.

On the other hand, PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi told Dawn that the PTI leaders had left their voters high and dry after winning, arguing that

MNA Imran Khan had not visited his NA-56 constituency since winning the seat.

“People come to my house, as the area MNA is not available to them. Most PTI lawmakers live in Islamabad, despite representing Rawalpindi.

“We are genuine local people, which was why people turn to us to get their problems resolved,” Mr Abbasi added.