KHAR: Annoyed Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf local leaders on Wednesday agreed to accept the party’s nominations for general elections in Bajaur Agency, sources told Dawn on Wednesday.

They said the development came following meetings between those denied the party ticket and the election nominees on Tuesday night and on Wednesday.

The sources said PTI local chapter president Dr Khalilur Rahman, who was upset over not being awarded the poll ticket, visited the house of Gul Zafar Khan, the PTI nominee for NA-41, and congratulated him on getting the party ticket.

It was the first ever meeting of the two leaders since 2013 general elections, the sources said, adding Dr Rehman assured Zafar Khan of his all-out support and cooperation in the election campaign.

The development got appreciation from the PTI workers across the agency who called it imperative for the party to win the elections.

Similarly, PTI’s Saleem Khan who had resigned from the post of senior vice president on Tuesday over not being awarded the ticket for the NA-41, also announced he would fully support the party’s candidates in the elections.

According to the sources, Mr Khan, said to be the strong contender for the ticket on NA 41, was upset when the ticket was awarded to Gul Dad Khan. However, on Wednesday he visited the house of Gul Dad and congratulated him on award of the ticket.

Meanwhile, PTI spokesperson Usman Khan, when contacted confirmed the development to Dawn.

He said personal disputes and differences had plagued the party in the agency. He said scores of senior leaders who had disassociated themselves from the party had decided to rejoin the party.

It is to be recalled here that differences between Zafar Khan and Dr Rahman erupted in 2013 general elections when the later publically opposed the former and supported Haji Bismillah Khan in the elections.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2018