MANSEHRA: The disgruntled leaders and workers of PTI Batagram chapter on Monday blocked the Karakoram Highway for over two hours to demand expulsion of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Senator Azam Khan Swati from the party for what they claimed defying party in the recent nazim elections.

“Now the days of dirty politics and conspiracies of Mr Khattak and Swati are over. They should be expelled from the party as both caused the party’s defeat in nazim and naib nazim elections in many districts of the province during the final electoral round,” PTI Batagram leader Naeem Shaheen told protesters.

Saeed Khan and Ajab Khan also spoke on the occasion.

Holding banners, shouting slogans and carrying coffins of the chief minister and Azam Swati, protesters marched through streets.

Threaten sit-in outside Imran Khan’s house if demand not met

They later burnt effigies of Pervez Khattak and Azam Swati and demanded that PTI chairman Imran Khan expel them.

They warned they would continue protesting until their demand was met.

“We won’t tolerate the black sheep in party anymore. If they’re not expelled from the party within 10 days, we’ll stage a sit-in outside the house of Imran Khan in Islamabad,” Naeem Shaheen said.

The PTI leader said party workers in Batagram were denied tickets in the recent nazim and naib nazim elections leading to the party’s defeat in many districts, including Mansehra.

“All tickets in wards were awarded to local elders instead of party workers in Batagram district. And when workers protested, the tickets of district and Allai and Batagram tehsils were also awarded to elders. Now, we have no option but to protest,” he said.

Speaking on occasion, Saeed Khan said the people of Batagram had buried the ‘politics of Khans’ but such people were dominating local policies due to the ‘dirty politics’ played by Pervez Khattak and Azam Swati.

“We had opposed the awarding tickets to so-called elders for elections but our voice was ignored. Now, we will not sit calmly and raise voice against Pervez Khattak and Azam Swati at all available forums,” he said.

Another PTI leader Ajab Khan said Imran Khan was the only role model for party workers, who would continue following him.

He said workers were in streets to expose so-called party leaders.

MPA’S SON DIES IN ACCIDENT: Ramiz Ibrar Tanoli, youth son of MPA Mohammad Ibrar Tanoli, died here on Sunday night after his car plunged into a deep ravine.

The accident occurred as Ramiz lost control of his car on the way home.

The local residents pulled the youngster and his two friends accompanying him from the ravine and shifted to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital.

However, Ramiz, who passed FSc examination lately, succumbed to his injuries.

The condition of his friends was stated out of danger.

The MPA is currently in Qatar.

On Monday, the funeral prayer of Ramiz was offered in Gujrain Purhanna area, where people from different walks of life showed up in large numbers.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2015

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