SWABI: Disgruntled leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, who are contesting the upcoming elections as independent candidates, have refused to withdraw their candidature in support of PTI nominees.

After award of election tickets, PTI leaders in Swabi were divided in different groups was many young leaders, who had applied for the party tickets, were ignored.

PTI chief Imran Khan had declared a day earlier that the party would take tough action against all those who violated the party’s discipline because they had signed an affidavit, promising that they would not contest elections as independents if they did not get the ticket.

The most serious objection raised by various leaders and workers was that three tickets were awarded to Tarakai House leaders, including Shahram Khan Tarakai, former health minister, and his two uncles, Usman Khan Tarakai, former MNA, and Mohammad Ali Tarakai, former MPA.

Two tickets have been given to Asad Qaisar and one each to Abdul Karim and Rangaiz Khan. Dr Mohammad Farooq, who could not get the ticket, decided to contest election from PK-45, Swabi-III, as independent, as the ticket was given to Abdul Karim.

Mr Farooq said he played a critical role in strengthening the party when people did not give any importance to PTI. He said merit had been flagrantly violated in award of tickets by PTI central parliamentary board.

Similarly, PTI leader Dr Fazal Elahi has decided to contest election from PK-46, Swabi-IV, as independent, as the party had given ticket to Mohammad Ali Tarakai.

Mr Elahi said in Swabi all the old faces got the PTI tickets and not a single new candidate was accommodated, thus strengthening the traditional politics.

Yousaf Ali, who contested election 2013 on PTI ticket from then NA-31, Swabi-I, is now contesting as independent. He said he would run campaign against the PTI nominees as the party had failed to give importance to diehard workers. Mohammad Iqbal, who contests election from PK-46, Swabi-IV, said he belonged to PTI (Nazriati) and similar claim was also made by Irfanullah, who is contesting from PK-47, Swabi-V.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2018