SWABI: The local Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders plan to meet party chief Imran Khan at his Banigala residence in Islamabad on Wednesday (today) to convey their concerns over the award of ticket on PK-43, Swabi-I, to former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly speaker Asad Qaisar, sources in the party told Dawn here on Tuesday.

The ticket has already been given by the party’s parliamentary board to Mr Qaisar, but workers and ticket aspirants have objected to the decision, and have written letters to Mr Imran, urging him to withdraw the decision.

The sources said Imran Khan was expected to make a final decision on whether Mr Qaisar would contest the election from three constancies or a ticket would either be awarded to his brother, former MPA Aqibullah Khan, or Rangaiz Khan, who was runner-up in the 2013 elections.

Mr Qaisar has already announced that he would contest election from NA-18, Swabi-I and PK-44, Swabi-II. He is also interested in contesting election from PK-43, but various leaders and workers have opposed.

Mr Qaisar told Dawn that those who were opposing the party’s nominated candidates would be expelled from the party. Answering a question, he said: “PK-43 is our strong constituency and we don’t want to lose it to Pakistan Muslim League-N candidate Shiraz Khan.” He also said the issue of PK-43 ticket would be resolved very soon.

However, a leader toldDawnthat they held talks with Mr Qaisar, urging him to give ticket to Rangaiz Khan because he had made numerous sacrifices for the party, but he did not budge. Another party leader on condition of anonymity said neither Mr Qaisar nor his brother should contest election from PK-43 because the voters would not support them due to their ‘greed’ for power.

Party insiders said whenever it was announced that Mr Qaisar would contest election from three constituencies the internal differences facing the party in the district would come to the fore.

Mr Rangaiz told Dawn that if the party leadership decided to ignore him he would have no option but to contest the election as an independent candidate.

“If Mr Qaisar contests election from PK-43, then the NA-18 ticket should be given to me,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2018