PTI faces backlash over award of tickets

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday faced backlash from local leadership over awarding of the party ticket to the brother of former minister Fawad Chaudhry, calling it nepotism.

PTI North Punjab Vice President Chaudhry Zahid Akhtar on Friday stepped down in protest against allocation of PP-25 (Jhelum) party ticket to senior party leader Fawad Chaudhry’s brother.

He announced the decision while addressing a news conference flanked by former MPA Yawar Kamal, who also announced quitting the party, in Jhelum.

However, top party leadership including Fawad Chaudhry, Hammad Azhar, and Shahbaz Gill expressed their unwavering support for party Chairman Imran Khan despite that fact that they did not receive party tickets for the upcoming Punjab elections.

The PTI finalised a list of 297 candidates earlier this week for the elections, which the Supreme Court (SC) had ordered to be held on May 14. Imran had decided to interview all party candidates in person to uphold merit in awarding party tickets.

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The former premier held one-on-one interviews with all candidates from April 6 to April 18 to select nominees.

According to the list of candidates published on the PTI’s website, Raja Basharat, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Usmar Dar, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Hashim Dogar, Zain Qureshi and Usman Buzdar have been awarded party tickets.

Meanwhile, Kamal alleged that PTI chief Imran did not award him a ticket and supported dynastic politics “after being blackmailed by Fawad Chaudhry”.

“We supported the party in difficult times, participated in protests and sit-ins but this happened to us. Ideological people have left the party because of Fawad Chaudhry,” he added.

The disgruntled party leader said he will contest the election against the PTI candidate in PP-25 constituency.

“From now onwards, I don't need the PTI, I resign from all posts of the party,” Akhtar said.