PTM denies expelling Mohsin Dawar, Ali Wazir for contesting elections

Nationalist movement confirms core committee membership of Dawar, Wazir and two others suspended

PESHAWAR: The Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) on Monday denied that it had expelled senior leaders – including Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir – from taking part in the upcoming election.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, PTM leader Muhammad Bilal confirmed that the core committee membership of Dawar, Wazir, Abdullah Nangial and Abdul Waheed has been suspended, but they are still part of PTM.

“We have only suspended their core committee membership. It does not mean the party has expelled them,” he added.

Bilal claimed that since the PTM was apolitical movement, it has barred its members from using the platform to contest the upcoming elections.

While Waheed is no longer contesting elections, Dawar is vying for NA-48 (North Waziristan), Wazir is running for NA-50 (South Waziristan and Nangial for NA-51 (frontier regions).

Earlier in the day, the returning officer for South Waziristan district issued a notification allowing political parties and aspiring lawmakers of NA-49 and NA-50 to hold campaign processions and political gatherings in the territorial jurisdiction of South Waziristan “subject to the condition that all contesting candidates shall abide by the code of conduct issued the by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).”

The candidates, however, have been told to not conduct political gatherings, including corner meetings, during the evening or night.