CHAKWAL: In a surprising move, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday removed the name of a retired general from the list of its proposed candidates for a provincial assembly seat.

Retired Major General Hafiz Masroor Ahmad was announced as the candidate for PP-22 (Chakwal II) on Friday.

The decision took local party leaders and workers by surprise as the ex-general had nothing to do with the party.

Though the PTI has not given any reason or justification for the removal of Gen Masroor’s name, a senior party leader confirmed to Dawn that PTI chief Imran Khan had cancelled the ticket after it generated strong reaction.

When contacted, PTI spokesperson Fawad Hussain Chaudhry did not offer any clear reason for the removal of Gen Masroor’s name. “If his name is not in the list, he would not be our candidate,” he maintained.

The decision invited the wrath of party workers who took to the social media and appealed to the party leadership to review it.

Sources told Dawn that the party was now considering finalising one of Raja Tariq Afzal Kalas, Pir Waqar Hussain Shah and Raja Zulifqar Aslam for the seat.

Raja Tariq Afzal Kalas contested by-polls in January while Pir Waqar Hussain Shah is a leading businessman who donated cash for Shaukat Khanum Hospital a few days ago. Raja Zulifqar Aslam, who is chairman of Dalwal union council, has yet to join the PTI.

But due to his close affiliation with Sardar Ghulam Abbas, being a member of Janjua clan of Choa Saidan Shah and his strong financial position, the party is considering his name too.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2018