By-elections in NA-13 Swabi PTI divided over decision in favour of Aqib
Muqaddam Khan
SWABI: Divisions continued in PTI over the party ticket for by-elections on NA-13, Swabi-II. Contacts with various leaders revealed that Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) was a divided house in the district after the ticket was awarded to Asad Qaisar's brother Aqibullah Khan on Thursday.
The much-awaited decision created controversy and the announcement caused more anxiety within the party as compared to the wait.
One of the leaders on the condition of anonymity said it was not just that the dominant forces remained dominant in the party and such trends were against the manifesto of the party.
He added that when the party had failed to be just to its own leaders and workers then how was it expected to do justice to the people who had voted for it.
PTI leaders and workers said that the decision created a very difficult situation for the ruling party and the seat which Asad won in May 11 elections might not be retained in the by-election because the person contesting from the seat made a great difference.
They said Aqib was not popular among the masses while the leaders who had strived for the party ticket were well-known political figures and they deserved the seat more than Aqib who had only been given the ticket because of his brother's influence in the party.
They went on to say that the decision lacked political maturity.
District Vice President Anwar Haq Dad clarified that he, Asad Qaiser and District General Secretary Yousuf Ali met Rangaiz Khan, Abdul Sattar, Muhammad Sohail Yousufzai, Sohail Khan and Aqibullah Khan and in their interview asked each one of them who they would choose if they weren't given the party ticket.
He said that three of them took Aqib's name while two Sohail Yousafzai's and the final decision was made democratically.
It was learnt that the PTI Chairman Imran Khan who conducted the interview of the short-listed candidates gave full authority to Asad to decide the issue of awarding the ticket. A party notable said that Imran's only concern was the winning of the seat.
Muqaddam Khan
SWABI: Divisions continued in PTI over the party ticket for by-elections on NA-13, Swabi-II. Contacts with various leaders revealed that Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) was a divided house in the district after the ticket was awarded to Asad Qaisar's brother Aqibullah Khan on Thursday.
The much-awaited decision created controversy and the announcement caused more anxiety within the party as compared to the wait.
One of the leaders on the condition of anonymity said it was not just that the dominant forces remained dominant in the party and such trends were against the manifesto of the party.
He added that when the party had failed to be just to its own leaders and workers then how was it expected to do justice to the people who had voted for it.
PTI leaders and workers said that the decision created a very difficult situation for the ruling party and the seat which Asad won in May 11 elections might not be retained in the by-election because the person contesting from the seat made a great difference.
They said Aqib was not popular among the masses while the leaders who had strived for the party ticket were well-known political figures and they deserved the seat more than Aqib who had only been given the ticket because of his brother's influence in the party.
They went on to say that the decision lacked political maturity.
District Vice President Anwar Haq Dad clarified that he, Asad Qaiser and District General Secretary Yousuf Ali met Rangaiz Khan, Abdul Sattar, Muhammad Sohail Yousufzai, Sohail Khan and Aqibullah Khan and in their interview asked each one of them who they would choose if they weren't given the party ticket.
He said that three of them took Aqib's name while two Sohail Yousafzai's and the final decision was made democratically.
It was learnt that the PTI Chairman Imran Khan who conducted the interview of the short-listed candidates gave full authority to Asad to decide the issue of awarding the ticket. A party notable said that Imran's only concern was the winning of the seat.