BATTAGRAM: The disgruntled workers of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf have formed what they called an ideological group, and also organised a demonstration against their party’s tehsil government, last week for alleged corruption, unjust distribution of development funds and focusing only on a few union councils.

The group is led by former PTI district president Syed Amal Shah Sherazai and Niaz Mohammad Khan Thakot. They have revolted against the PTI district president Yaqoob Khan and tehsil nazim Niaz Mohammad Khan Trand.

It is to mention here that PTI is ruling in the district and Battagram and Allai tehsils. The PTI ‘ideological group’ leaders, Mr Sherazi and Mr Thakot, with the latter also the tehsil council member, criticised their own tehsil government for corruption and incompetency. They said the PTI tehsil governments could not deliver according to the people’s expectations as they extended relief packages and development schemes to undeserving people.

Mr Sherazi and Mr Thakot also accused the Trand group of switching loyalties, especially at the times of election. They said before joining PTI the Trand group was in ANP, and before that they were in PML-Q. They said after analysing the political environment of the province they would join the party whose chances were brightened for winning the polls.

They said that billions of development funds were sanctioned for the district but basic infrastructure was in disarray. The PTI ideological group also claimed having close contacts with party chief Imran Khan.

On the other hand, PTI Battagram president Yaqoob Khan along with Mohammad Khan Tarand, while addressing a press conference, denied all the allegations and claimed that those criticising them had been rejected by the people of Battagram.

They also claimed to have made the PTI strong in the district and that the party would be in a position to win the coming general elections in the district.

They alleged that so-called PTI ideological group was violating the party decisions from the day one as during the local body elections they did not ask anybody to poll vote for PTI candidates.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2018