CHAKWAL, April 15: In 2006, Naeem Akram, a notable of Chakwal, decided to enter the foray of politics and joined Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.
After joining PTI, he and his brother Rizwan Akram started introducing the party in Chakwal district. During the last six years Mr Naeem contributed both physically and financially to strengthen the party in Chakwal.
As there was no other potential PTI candidate for NA 60 Mr Naeem had the illusion that the party would award him ticket for the seat and started visiting every village falling in the constituency. Besides this he bore the financial expenses of the party in the district.
But he was disillusioned when PTI emerged as a potent force to challenge the old order after its October 2011 rally at Minar-i-Pakistan. Many opportunists boarded the bandwagon of PTI.
In Chakwal, Sardar Ghulam Abbas too joined the ranks of PTI along with his political friends after quitting Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s Pakistan Muslim League on November 26, 2011.
As Naeem Akram was fully aware of the political power of Sardar Ghulam Abbas, he gave up thinking of ticket for NA-60 but he was dead sure that due to his hard work and sacrifices, Imran Khan would award him the ticket for PP 20 if not for NA 60.
The political scene took another twist when Chaudhry Ali Nasir Bhatti another influential politician having a strong family back ground switched his loyalties to PTI by quitting Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
PTI’s Chakwal chapter got another entry when on Feburary 10 this year Raja Yassir Sarfaraz (a son of an influential family of Chakwal city) joined PTI in the presence of Imran Khan.
With the arrival of Chaudhry Ali Nasir Bhatti and Raja Yassir Sarfaraz, the party leadership started ignoring ‘old friends’.
Rumours also started making rounds that Chaudhry Ali Nasir Bhatti would be picked up as PTI’s man for the battle of PP 20 and Raja Yassir Sarfaraz for NA 60.
But Naeem Akram was not ready to endorse such rumours as he believed that Imran Khan would give tickets to old faces.
“I was dead sure that Imran will honour those who will be recommended by the members of the party in the district”.
The members of 18 union councils out of 25 falling in the constituency of PP-20 recommended Naeem Akram as a candidate for this seat hence the party’s district president Rizwan Akram sent a list to Imran Khan recommending Pir Shaukat Hussain, Naeem Akram and Maha Tareen Raja for NA 60, PP 20 and PP 21 tickets. But according to the office bearers of the party the proposal was thrown in the dust bin and Mr. Khan made quite an opposite decision as he decided to award tickets of NA 60 and PP 20 to new comers Raja Yassir Sarfaraz and Chaudhry Ali Nasir Bhatti while he made his mind to try Pir Shaukat Hussain in PP 21.
The district president has sent many letters (the copies are available with Dawn) to Imran Khan for revising the decision but to no avail.
“I have been trying to meet Imran Khan for last many months but I could not cross the iron wall, my leader has built around himself after October 30, 2011. He even does not pick the call of old workers”, moans a dejected Naeem Akram. “I joined the party due to its slogan of justice and now I only seek justice for myself from my leader”, he yearns.
When asked what would be your reaction if your cries are not heard by your leader, the distressed Naeem Akram replied as, “I would stick to the party but to express my pain is my right as my party stands for democracy.”