HARIPUR: A Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz stalwart from Haripur and former MNA, Sardar Mohammad Mushtaq Khan, is likely to quit the party after he has developed differences with the leadership over allotment of tickets thus, weakening the position of PML-N in its traditional stronghold of Hazara division, informed sources told Dawn here on Sunday.

Mr Khan, a close relative of former election commissioner Sardar Fakhr-i-Alam Khan and associated with PML-N since early 90s, had won thrice from PK-39, now renamed as PK-41, and served as provincial minister for a brief period of three months.

He stood with PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif through thick and thin, even during the rule of retired Gen Pervez Musharraf when many of the long-time aides of Sharif chose to go underground or switched sides.

Mr Khan later won from NA-19, now renamed NA-13, defeating Omar Ayub Khan in the 2008 general elections, bagging highest number of votes in the country.

Now, he was aspiring to contest on PML-N ticket from PK-41 from where he won thrice earlier but, according to a well-informed source, the party is going to consider Raja Faisal Zaman, son of former caretaker chief minister Raja Sikandar Zaman. Faisal served the same constituency as MPA during last two consecutive tenures.

The sources said Mr Khan, who got wind of the party’s decision to award ticket to Faisal, had started consulting his close aides about his future line of action.

Owing to his strong vote bank based on his largest Gujjar clan, the other political parties, including MMA and PTI, knowing about his political weight, have started approaching him for joining them.

Meanwhile, when approached for comments, the former MNA confirmed his annoyance over the party not recognising his longstanding services. He claimed that Faisal Zaman had no worthwhile contribution for the party and his brother, Raja Amir Zaman, was a central office-bearer of PTI and one of the contenders for the party ticket.

Mr Khan claimed that his services for the PML-N were unmatched but a strong lobby was working against him in the party.

To a question, he said although some political parties were in contact with him over the matter of ticket allotment, he would decide within next couple of days whether he should contest as an independent or join any other party after consulting his supporters and well-wishers.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2018