CHITRAL, Dec 31: The local chapter of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf split into two groups during its polls, held for electing district office-bearers of the party. Abdul Latif was elected district president of PTI, however, Wing Commander (retired) Fardad Ali Shah and his supporters boycotted the elections.

The supporters of Mr Shah alleged, during a press conference, that those holding elections were not authorised by the party leadership to do so. They held the sham polls to get themselves elected, they alleged.

They said that elections should be held in transparent manner. Only handpicked workers were called to cast their votes, they said.

The annoyed workers said that the two aspirants for the office of district president, Fardad Ali Shah and Haji Sultan Mohammad, were not present in the district and seizing the opportunity Mr Latif staged the drama of elections to get himself elected.

They demanded of the provincial and central leadership of the party to annul the elections and send a committee to Chitral to hold fresh elections otherwise the party would face a severe setback in the district.

However, Mr Latif refuted the allegations of his rivals and claimed that the elections were held in a fair and transparent manner. He said that he had been authorised by the provincial leadership of the party to hold elections. Proper announcements in that regard were made a week ago, he said.

Mr Latif claimed that party workers were united under a single banner and there was no grouping. He said that he was elected president in accordance with the aspirations of the sincere workers of the party.

He said that he would try his level best to rise to the occasion and make the party an indomitable political entity in the district. Mr Latif said that the right of vote was given to those workers, who had membership forms duly issued by the competent authority of the party.