ABBOTTABAD: The Karakorum Highway remained blocked for over three hours as PTI workers held a demonstration to show their resentment over ‘unfair’ award of tickets for the local government elections in Abbottabad district.

Among the protesters were former National Assembly deputy speaker Sardar Mohammad Yaqub, president and general secretary of PTI, Abbottabad, Sardar Sher Bahadar and Jan Mohammad Qureshi.

The protesters burnt tyres and chanted slogans against PTI provincial president Azam Khan Swati, provincial ministers Mushtaq Ghani, Qalandar Khan Lodhi and CM Khattak.

They alleged that worst nepotism was being witnessed in award of tickets, and loyal party workers were denied tickets. They said ignoring merit in award of tickets would damage the party at the grass-roots level. They alleged the tickets were awarded to candidates who were members of other parties.

A long queue of vehicles was seen on both sides of the road, with schoolchildren having to bear the brunt of the protest as they couldn’t proceed to their homes after school.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2015

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