PML-N to benefit as rifts emerge in PTI over party tickets

People want to launch a local of the constituency for the slot

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is likely to lose its majority in its stronghold in PK 71 after PTI workers stood up and demanded that the constituency’s candidate and no other will be supported during next general polls.

The split over the issue at PK-10 [now PK-71 after delimitation] is likely to benefit Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) since PTI workers refused supporting PTI candidate, the incumbent provincial Minister for Information Shah Farman who won the provincial assembly seat during general polls 2013 from the constituency.

The reason behind the loss is differences over party ticket as locals want to launch a resident of the constituency for the slot Farman is said to be reluctant and wants to contest polls from two different constituencies including his hometown, now PK-70 and PK-71 [former PK-10 where he got elected from during last polls].



Farman managed to defeat Awami National Party (ANP) candidate Khushdil Khan despite having been ANP’s stronghold in general elections however locals from Koh-e-Daman, comprising five union councils don’t want Farman in the provincial assembly anymore.

“Yes, this is a fact that people from Koh-e-Daman are happy for what Farman has done for the constituency but the area comprising five major union councils including Azakhail, Mattani, Adezai, Sherkera and parts of Maryamzai want their own candidate,” a Farman’s close aide informed.

He stated Farman has been confronted with immense pressure since all those who have stood against Farman, represent the area in local government however added, the ultimate beneficiary will be Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N).

“The only political party which challenges PTI is PML-N since after delimitation, ANP has lost a huge number of voters and it does not have enough voters to help it win the provincial assembly seat,” he said.

A campaign has been launched on social media at the same time asking Farman to refrain from contesting polls on PK-71.

“We have come to know that Shah Farman plans to contest polls from two different constituencies including ours but we will resist,” PTI Town-4 member from Union Council Maryamzai Malik Sardar told The Express Tribune.

He stated that it was the constituency’s right to have its own representatives and if Farman [being head of the province’s central zone] refused to give party ticket to candidate from Koh-e-Daman, the area residents resist and its candidate will contest polls as independent candidate.

When asked if it ended up in losing polls, Sardar stated the party leadership must consider nature of the issue and refrain Farman from contesting polls from PK-71 adding ‘if we want to contest polls, party leadership must consider us otherwise party leadership will be responsible for failure.’

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2018.