KOHAT: The lawmakers of the ruling PTI, MPA Ziaulllah Bangash and MNA Shehryar Afridi, have not fielded candidates of their party from their hometown Muhammadzai union council for the local government elections, fearing defeat at the hands of Seth Gohar Saifullah Khan Bangash of JUI-F, which is part of the five-party electoral alliance, according to sources.

Shehryar Afridi had earlier allotted ticket to his elder brother Fida Khan Afridi but withdrew it when his opponents in the party lodged a complaint with PTI chairman Imran Khan in this regard.

Similarly, MPA Ziaullah Bangash fielded his uncle for tehsil council and brother for district council as independent candidates instead of allotting them party tickets with a view to avoid embarrassment in case of their defeat in his hometown.

Sources said that PTI wanted to buy winning candidates and award them party tickets within 72 hours of the announcement of the results, which would be made public after one week of the holding of local government elections.

They said that a tug-of-war was underway in PTI over allotment of tickets as Chief Minister Pervez Khattak would allocate Rs30 million discretionary fund to the lawmaker, who would win more seats in his constituency.

Sources said that PTI lawmakers Amjid Afridi, Ziaullah Bangash, Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi and Shehryar Afridi were also divided over allotment of tickets. The lawmakers wanted to keep the offer of joining PTI open for the independent winning candidates, they added.

The alliance of the opposition parties has awarded tickets to strong candidates to take advantage of the rift in PTI. Former district nazim and son of former MPA, Seth Gohar Saiullah Khan had fielded his family members from the hometown of MPA Ziaullah and MNA Shehryar Afridi from the quota allocated to JUI-F by the five-party alliance in Kohat.

The alliance was formed by three opposition parties -- PPP, ANP and JUI-F -- at provincial level but last week PML-N and JUI-S also joined it in Kohat.

Sources said that PTI lawmakers fielded independent candidates in their hometown because they feared defeat at the hands of Seth Gohar Saifullah Khan, a seasoned and wealthy politician.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play