CHAKWAL, April 11: The Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) may take a few days to formally announce its candidates in Chakwal, but green signals given to a few politicians in the district has left the party workers in a state of despair.

The workers, who had got excited by the assurance from their party chief Imran Khan that the tickets would be given on merit, are now grumbling against the probable nominations, particularly on the provincial seats of PP-20 and PP-23.

The PTI workers in Talagang were sure that tickets would be awarded to those who worked hard for the party.

But the sudden entry of Sardar Mansoor Hayat Tamman, an influential politician, into the PTI has dashed the hopes of these workers.

They were expecting the ticket for NA-61 going to Malik Yassir Awan, the vice-president of the party in Talagang.

Similarly, the workers were expecting that the ticket for PP-23 would be given to Hakim Nisar, the tehsil president of the party who took an active part in the membership campaign.

However, they were left dejected when the green signal was given to Col (retired) Sultan Surkhru, who joined the party in 2011 after quitting the PML N.

The situation in NA-60 and PP-20 has also dashed the hopes of the workers who were sure that the ticket for the National Assembly seat would be given to Pir Shaukat Hussain while Chaudhry Naeem Akram would be picked for the provincial assembly seat.

But after getting the green signals by the high command, Raja Yassir Sarfaraz (NA-60) and Chaudhry Ali Nasir Bhatti (PP-20) have started their campaigns.

On Wednesday, a hurriedly called meeting of the PTI workers was held in Talagang in which they expressed their concerns over the development.

“We were told that a ‘mix selection’ would be made in which some influential politicians and some workers would be accommodated but it seems it would not happen,” said Hakim Nisar. “We do not have any objection on Mansoor Tamman (NA-61) and Pir Nisar Qasim (PP-22), but a worker should be taken from PP-23,” he added.

Chaudhry Naeem Akram, who played an active role in strengthening the party in the district, is also going to be denied of the ticket due to Chaudhry Ali Nasir Bhatti.

Pir Shaukat Hussain, who enjoys a large vote bank in NA-60, is also going to be denied of the ticket as according to sources Imran Khan has decided to award the ticket to Raja Yassir Sarfaraz, a foreign educated young man who runs a private school.

“Due to his extraordinary performance in the education sector and the party’s policy of awarding 25 per cent tickets to the youth, he was given a green signal by Imran Khan,” a source said.

“We appeal to the party leadership to also accommodate two to three workers,” Hakim Nisar demanded.

When contacted, PTI’s district president Chaudjhry Rizwan Akram admitted that the workers had serious reservations over the probable nominations. “The tickets should be given according to the policy of mix selection,” he added.

“If the party high command does not award tickets on merit, the local chapter would not be responsible for the consequences,” he warned.

“We would accept whatever decision the party takes but the workers would not take part in the campaign with full zeal if their reservations are not addressed,” he said.