BAJAUR: The candidates backed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in Bajaur have formally launched their election campaign with taking oath on the Holy Quran to remain loyal to party and its founder Imran Khan after winning their seats.

The PTI-backed aspirants for lone National Assembly and four provincial assembly seats in the district commenced their campaign by holding separate meetings in their native areas and took the oath of loyalty.

Former provincial minister Anwarzeb Khan, who is PTI nominee for PK-20, launched his election campaign by holding a gathering of party workers at his residence in Raghagan area of Khar tehsil.

Besides scores of PTI workers, a number of locals attended the meeting. “He took the oath when some party workers raised doubts that how they could believe that he would not change his loyalty after winning of elections,” a participant of the meeting told this scribe.

“I am standing like a rock with party and its founding chairman Imran Khan. I would not have been faced such detentions and cruelties if I was not standing like this,” Mr Khan told the meeting.

Following taking oath on the Holy Quran, the participants of the gathering not only assured him of their full support in the elections but also promised to take active part in his election campaign.

Similarly, PTI former lawmaker Guldad Khan and his elder brother Engineer Ajmal Khan kicked off their election campaign for PK-22 and PK-21, respectively, in a joint gathering held in their native Barang tehsil.

Both of them took oath to remain loyal to party and its founder Imran Khan after winning their seats in the elections. They asked the party workers to stand with them in the elections with sincerity and commitment for the larger interest of party.

Also, PTI former MNA and aspirant for the lone seat of National Assembly in the district Gul Zafar Khan and candidate for PK-19 Dr Hamidur Rahman launched their elections campaign at a gathering in Mamond tehsil.

Hundreds of people participated in the gathering wherein both of them took oath of loyalty. On the occasion, activists called for efforts to convince those party aspirants, who are taking part in the elections as independents, to withdraw in the favour of PTI-backed candidates.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2024