LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Dr Zarqa has approached the Election Commission (ECP) against her two colleagues in the party nominated for the women reserved seats.

In her application submitted to the returning officer, challenging candidatures of Munaza Hasan and Aliya Hamza, Dr Zarqa alleged the two PTI nominees for the National Assembly’s reserved seats for women did not meet the criteria set in Articles 62 and 63 to contest the polls, for holding dual nationality.

She also alleged that Ms Hasan had by-passed the party and misused her powers as women wing leader. Similarly, Aliya Hamaza, who had been in-charge of women election campaign, did the same, she alleged.

Dr Zarqa herself figures at 65th position in the list submitted by the PTI with the ECP for reserved seats for women in the National Assembly. She had also been a party candidate in the Senate elections.

Some other PTI women activists, meanwhile, have approached the party leadership against alleged violation of merit in finalising the women reserved seats list. They said that Munaza Hasan and Aliya Hamza ignored the old guard and included names of newcomers in the list at the cost of genuine workers.

Those who have written to the party leadership on the issue included Saima Shaukat, Fatima Usman and Saba Butt.

The PTI is also facing revolt on nominations for general seats. The activists who were not given party tickets for general seats had earlier held a meeting under the chair of noted lawyer and PTI stalwart Hamid Khan. They decided to approach Chairman Imran Khan requesting him to review the award of tickets.

And if the requested was denied, they threatened to hold a peaceful protest at Banni Gala, the chairman’s residence.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2018