SWABI: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders’ failure to give due weight to its genuine workers and office-bearers has forced district president Anwar Haqdad to resign as a protest at a critical stage of general elections.

Sources said that the surprise decision was announced late on Wednesday in a convention held in Razaar tehsil to discuss the prevailing wave of dissent among the workers who were sidelined at a critical juncture by their own leaders.

Mr Haqdad was counted among loyalists of party chief Imran Khan and in the district he was among the first people to join his caravan. He was not satisfied with the behaviour of leaders who would ignore the workers.

Claims leaders not giving due weight to views of local office-bearers

Sources in PTI told this correspondent that earlier Mr Haqdad had held a detailed meeting with district office-bearers and informed them about his decision. The other office-bearers proposed to tender en bloc resignation and let the arrogant do their business, but Mr Haqdad asked them to keep their offices.

“As district president I have to deliver. When I am not in a position to deliver why I should occupy the top slot,” he told them.

Insiders said that the resignation had exposed a serious rift among the local PTI leaders which could damage the party and campaign of its candidates for July 25 elections.

When contacted, Mr Haqdad said that he was a staunch supporter of Imran Khan. “I will remain follower of Imran Khan, but I do not want to lose my dignity and honour,” he said.

He said that he had to leave the slot of district president because of the rough behaviour of some leaders.

Mr Haqdad said that he only wanted that due weight should be given to the views of district office-bearers.

ELECTORAL ALLIANCE: Pakistan Peoples Party and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Nazriati (JUI-N) leaders on Thursday announced that they had entered an electoral alliance at the district level and vowed to contest the general elections from one platform.

They were addressing a joint press conference at the residence of Maulana Khalil Ahmad, central chief of JUI-N. Gohar Inqilabai, PPP deputy provincial information secretary, district general secretary Ali Khan, JUI-N central general secretary Najeem Khan and workers and contesting candidates of the two parties were also present on the occasion.

“Our doors are open for other political parties if they want to join us,” said Maulana Ahmad.

The leaders said that NA-18, Swabi-I, PK-44, Swabi-II, and PK-47, Swabi-V, had been given to JUI-N candidates, and NA-19, Swabi-II, PK-45, Swabi-III, and PK 46, Swabi-IV, to PPP candidates.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2018