MULTAN: Although the parliamentary board of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has yet to finalise candidates for various constituencies and issue them tickets, some interested applicants are protesting the likelihood of awarding tickets to other candidates in certain constituencies.

One such constituency is NA-154 -- previously NA-151 -- where PTI workers are protesting the possible re-entry into the party of former minister Sikandar Hayat Bosan and possibility of awarding him a ticket from here.

Mr Bosan won the 2013 general elections on a PML-N ticket after securing 96,159 votes against Abdul Qadir Gilani, the eldest son of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, who polled 57,168 votes. The PTI candidate was Mian Salman Ali Qureshi, who stood third with 36,904 votes.

At that time, Mr Bosan had jumped ship from the PTI into the PML-N only two weeks before the elections. This was being cited by the protesting workers as a reason not to allow him to rejoin the party if he decides to; however those supporting his possible inclusion were of the view that he was the most suitable candidate among all the options in NA-154.

Say Sikandar Bosan ‘ditched’ party in 2013 for PML-N

There is a long list of PTI aspirants interested in the ticket for the same constituency and have united with the party’s aspirants for attached provincial assembly seats here against the possible rejoining of Mr Bosan and likelihood of awarding him the ticket.

Former ticket-holder Mian Salman Ali Qureshi, former PPP MPA Malik Ahmed Hussain Dehar, Ishaq Bucha, Malik Muhammad Ahmed Asim Dehar and Dr Robina Akhtar have submitted their applications for the ticket from NA-154.

For attached provincial assembly seat of PP-211, former ticket-holder Nasir Mahay, Sarwar Bosan and Allah Ditta Bosan; for PP-212 former ticket-holder Tahir Hameed Khokhar, Zaheen Kanwal, Makhdoom Abbas Akbar Moni Shah, Makhdoom Sher Shah, Makhdoom Amir, Malik Khalid Khokhar and Umer Farooq Khokhar; and for PP-213 (eight union councils of this constituency are now part of NA-156 from where Shah Mehmood Qureshi is likely to contest the election) former ticket-holder Wasim Khan Badozai, Ghazal Ghazi, Ali Siddiqui, Mubashir Durrani, Munawar Qureshi, Malik Adnan Dogar and Moeenuddin Ahmed Qureshi have applied for PTI tickets.

“We will launch a protest campaign if the PTI chairman allows Mr Bosan into the party. A hunger strike camp will be established outside the Bani Gala residence of Imran Khan and we will submit a memorandum to him besides establishing a protest camp at Nawan Shaher Chowk Mulyan,” Mr Khalid Warraich, one of the aspirants for NA-154 ticket, accompanied by two fellow contestants for the constituency and five aspirants for the respective provincial assembly constituencies, told the media the other day. “Mr Bosan was awarded a ticket in 2013 but he ditched the party at a critical time and joined the PML-N.”

Mr Bucha said he only joined the PTI after he was assured by Chairman Imran Khan in the presence of Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi that the party will not accept Mr Bosan.

PTI workers alleged that disqualified senior member Jahangir Tareen was actively campaigning for Mr Bosan’s inclusion in the party and awarding him the party ticket. They claimed that Mr Qureshi was also against the inclusion of Mr Bosan and supported Ahmed Dehar.

Meanwhile, Mr Bosan has not yet announced his departure from the PML-N. According to sources, he is negotiating with the party high-up that he will select all the provincial assembly candidates under NA-154.

Sources also said that after finding out about the possible rejoining of Mr Bosan, Ahmed Dehar has started efforts to get a PML-N ticket; however his close aides are denying these reports.

Meanwhile, a group of PTI workers from Muzaffargarh held a demonstration on Sunday outside the press club here against what they thought was likelihood of awarding party ticket for PP-277 to former PML-N MPA Alamdar Qureshi. They also burnt Mr Qureshi’s effigy.

Mr Qureshi was among the MPAs from Muzaffargarh who joined the Janoobi Punjab Suba Mahaz after deserting the PML-N and later merged into PTI on the condition that the party will create a south Punjab province after coming into power. (Shakeel Ahmed)

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2018