ISLAMABAD: A large number of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) supporters continued their protest outside the Banigala residence of the party chief on Tuesday against the “unjustified” award of tickets in many constituencies.

Though PTI’s reconciliatory committees have been hearing grievances of the leaders who were not given party tickets in the preliminary list, a large number of workers, mostly from NA-154, NA-5, PK-12 and PP-3, on Tuesday started a sit-in outside Imran Khan’s house.

Many party workers from NA-154 Multan came to protest against the party’s decision for awarding a ticket to former federal minister Sikandar Hayat Bosan, who just joined the party last month when the party he was last with, PML-N, completed its five-year term.

Party’s reconciliatory committees are hearing grievances of leaders who were not given tickets as well

The workers demanded that local party leader, Ahmed Hassan Dehr be given the ticket instead.

“While Mr Bosan was enjoying a ministerial position in the PML-N government, it was Dehr who was making efforts for strengthening the party,” said Haji Irshad, a Dehr supporter.

The protesters chanted slogans in favour of their candidates, saying the party was in the position of winning the upcoming general elections due to the efforts and continuous support of old guards.

The protesters from PK-12 also rejected the party’s decision of not awarding Naveed Shaheen a ticket.

They said a less prominent leader was preferred over Mr Shaheen.

The workers from NA-51 in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas said former PTI MNA Qaiser Jamal should not have been given the ticket again as he had been out of touch with workers while he was a member of parliament.

“We will accept anyone but him,” said a protester, Ali Khan.

Workers of the party from PP-3 in Fatehjang want the party to give its ticket to Sardar Mohammad Ali.

The protesters were still outside Imran Khan’s residence till the filing of this report.

Workers from other constituencies in Gujrat, Mandibahauddin, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and others had come to protest on Monday.

Dozens of PTI workers protested against the party’s candidate for NA-59, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, and said the ticket should have been awarded to retired Lt Col Ajmal Raza instead. Workers from NA-74 protested against the party for not giving a ticket to retired Maj Gen Noor Hussain for the National Assembly seat and those from other constituencies also protested during Ramazan.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2018