SAHIWAL: The district leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has ‘distanced’ itself from the conduct of MNA Chaudhry Usman Ali, who won the NA-142 (Sahiwal II) in Feb 8 general election as an independent backed by PTI.

In a media talk at the local PTI Secretariat on Wednesday, party leaders Chaudhry Asif Ali, senior vice president of West Punjab and former PTI ticket-holder for NA-142, Rana Aftab, PTI’s district president and Malik Sajjad, district general secretary, said they were not responsible for any of his personal or political action in future.

It was Chaudhry Asif Ali who managed ticket for nephew Usman after his nomination papers were rejected.

When asked whether Chaudhry Usman Ali had officially joined another political party, Chaudhry Asif said Usman had either struck a deal or under pressure from certain quarters. He claimed his nephew had obtained benefits and privileges from the ruling party and challenged him to clarify his position publicly.

Chaudhry Usman Ali has been absent from PTI’s gatherings and protest calls in recent weeks. He stayed away from Islamabad sit-in and Lahore gathering.

Chaudhry Asif said there were reports that he had been kidnapped on the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway but the news was not confirmed, with many speculating that he himself had gone into hiding. During the press conference, Rana Aftab acknowledged it was a mistake to award party ticket to Usman.

Chaudhry Asif Ali publicly apologised to the voters of NA-142, expressing regrets over his nephew’s betrayal. Efforts to contact Chaudhry Usman Ali remained unsuccessful, as his phone was switched off.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2024