Party workers ignored by PTI

PM Imran Khan too favoured the influential candidates, say party sources

PESHAWAR:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is once again going to repeat the same mistake in the second phase of the local bodies’ polls which resulted in its defeat in the first phase of elections across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) party insiders claimed.

Party sources told The Express Tribune that in the second phase too favouritism was widespread as party leaders had ignored the genuine workers and tickets were being awarded to the sons and brothers of influential personalities.

It had been decided after the clear-cut defeat in the first phase of local government polls that tickets would be allotted only to old and genuine party workers who worked hard for PTI in the past so as to avoid division within the party ranks, they said.

“Federal Minister Ali Amin awarded the ticket to his brother in DI Khan, Asad Qaisar to his relatives in Swabi, Pervaz Khattak to his son in Nowshera and Governor Shah Farman to his own men in Badhaber, Peshawar,” they said, adding that genuine and real party workers were completely ignored by the party as a result in most cases PTI lost to JUI-F.

“A list of party workers had been prepared for the remaining 18 districts of K-P where elections will be held in the second phase and it was presented to PM Imran Khan where the list was put on hold due to pressure from these influential people who are promoting their own candidates,” claimed the official.

He added that PM Imran Khan too favoured the influential candidates with a few conditions in the parliamentary board meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2022.