ISLAMABAD: In the distribution of tickets for the local government elections in the federal capital, relatives of different party leaders have been accommodated on one pretext or the other.

An estranged section of the ruling PML-N local chapter has taken to the streets against what it claimed highly biased and unjust award of party tickets by those close to the party leaders.

In whispers though, few in the PTI also said top party leaders had accommodated close relatives to contest elections.

The first ever local government elections are scheduled to be held in the Islamabad capital territory on November 30.

Attique Khattak is the son of PTI’s member National Assembly (MNA) Nafeesa Khattak and a nephew of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak. 

Mr Attique, who is in the eatery business, is running for Union Council (UC) chairmanship from F-6 area. Similarly, Seemi Ezdi, a sister of Jahangir Tareen, is vying for a UC vice-chairmanship from F-10. Mr Tareen is the general secretary of the PTI.

Owning the responsibility of awarding tickets purely on merit, PTI MNA from Islamabad Asad Umar told Dawn that people might have their own arguments but, “I believe one’s relationship with senior party leaders should neither go in favour nor against them.” For example, he added, Ms Ezdi actually had applied for the ticket of UC chairperson but the board found her suitable only for the slot of vice-chairperson.

Likewise, PTI workers from the capital city know Ms Nafeesa and Mr Attique joined the PTI much before the chief minister of KP.

“The two have been very active in successfully running the party in the federal capital.”

Another PTI office-bearer told Dawn that Mr Attique had been very generous in supporting the party both in cash and kind, hence had a fair claim on the ticket. Similarly, he said, few people knew about Ms Ezdi as she preferred to work on ground instead of occupying the stage before she applied for the post of vice-chairmanship.

About the differences within the PTI over the distribution of tickets, the office-bearer said, “At least I know one senior party leader close to chairman Imran Khan wanted the ticket for a sibling but was refused.”

On the other hand, the ruling PML-N looks more divided on the issue of party tickets with its local leaders going public against each other. The newly-appointed state minister for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) and MNA from NA-49, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, is facing the brunt.

The general secretary of the PML-N, Islamabad chapter, Malik Shujaur Rehman, while talking to Dawn hit at Mr Fazal for the distribution of tickets among his near and dear ones.

MNA’s beneficiaries, according Mr Rehman, included Chaudhry Matloob, his maternal uncle, who has been awarded a ticket for the office of the chairman Chak Shahzad and Chatta Bakhtawar.

Others who were not Mr Fazal’s close relatives but awarded tickets were the ones who shared business interests with him in real estate, claimed Mr Rehman.  

He said former PML-N MNA from NA-48 Anjum Aqeel too had taken care of his kith and kin. One of Mr Aqeel’s cousins, Tahir Khan, has been awarded the party ticket for a UC chairman.

Mr Rehman said Wajid Ayub, the brother-in-law of Malik Ibrar, a PML-N MNA from Rawalpindi, had been awarded a ticket for the UC chairman in Tarnol area.

Mr Tariq Fazal could not be contacted for comments.

However, second PML-N office-bearer told Dawn that at a recent meeting with the prime minister, Mr Fazal conveyed his concerns about divisions within the party ranks and sought his appointment as a minister to send a clear message to his opponents.

“Of course, with Dr Fazal holding the portfolio of CADD minister responsible for all government departments concerning Islamabad such as health, education etc, the prime minister has sent out a clear signal in his favour,” remarked the party office-bearer.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2015