ISLAMABAD: Around a dozen PTI workers held a protest in the federal capital on Tuesday against what they called “the sale of party’s tickets” in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The workers, who reached Islamabad from KP, held a protest outside PTI’s office in G8, claiming that the party has been “hijacked by some elements close to the establishment, former chief minister Pervaiz Khattak and Aleem Khan”.

While speaking to the media, Saud Shah Roghani, who submitted his nomination papers from the PK-55 constituency of KP Assembly, said the party has been “hijacked by leaders close to the establishment”.

He also announced plans to launch his own panel for the upcoming elections, claiming it would be “the true representative of Imran Khan”.

“Imran Khan said ‘absolutely not’ to the US. Now a decision has been made to punish him for that statement, and his friends are being used to weaken him and his party so he would be left with no choice but to surrender,” Mr Roghani claimed.

Mr Roghani reiterated “his support for Mr Khan for change” and vowed to continue supporting his leader.

He claimed to be “representing 500 candidates from across the country” and said he would distribute tickets among them.

He also threatened to launch his own panel for the general elections and give tickets to party loyalists.

“Currently, a four-member committee has been established for the distribution of tickets [in KP], and tickets are being sold,” he alleged, citing Rs40 million as the price for one ticket.

Mr Roghani called PTI’s intra-party elections “flawed”, adding that PTI KP and other office bearers elected after the exercise “had no value”.

Those leaders who had been “watching their own interests for the last 10 years” have been “selected” as a result of the flawed elections.

He claimed the establishment was arresting party workers and trying to fill PTI’s ranks with their loyalists.

“Establishment has been trying to weaken the party. Currently, tickets are being given on the directions of Aleem Khan and Pervaiz Khattak,” alleged Mr Roghani.

“Imran Khan always stood for merit, but at the moment, tickets are being given only to corrupt people. Imran Khan is in jail and does not know what is happening with the party.”

He added that even though he submitted nomination papers for the national and provincial assembly, he will withdraw them.

Mr Roghani said that in the absence of intra-party elections, he had an equal status in the party as the incumbent chairman, Barrister Gohar.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2024