SWABI: Cracks have surfaced in Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s local leadership over award of ticket for PK-49, Swabi-I, sources in the party told Dawn on Sunday.

They said five candidates from Topi tehsil had submitted their nominations, declaring that they won’t accept former MPA Rangaiz Khan or any other ‘imported’ candidate to vie for the seat.

However, Mr Rangaiz, who contested the 2013 and 2018 elections from PK-50, Swabi-II, claims the party had awarded him the ticket from PK-49.

The aspiring candidates for PK-49 hope the party leadership would make a surprise announcement, awarding tickets to new faces instead of sticking to old guns.

Leaders oppose candidature of ex-MPA, who belongs to PK-50

They alleged the Tarakai family and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser had hijacked the PTI in Swabi, and no other leader got a ticket without their consent, which was against the democratic norms.

The sources said a few days ago, a jirga of PTI leaders from PK-49, including district president Sohail Yousafzai, Javed Khan Kotha, Nadeem Khan Zarobi, Irfan Jadoon, Nadeem Tahir Kheli and Syed Arif Bacha, had visited the residence of former MPA Rangaiz Khan and requested him not to contest the PK-49 seat.

The jirga members told him that he should play the role of a senior leader and accept their request. However, Mr Rangaiz asked for time to consult his family members and Mr Qaiser before making a decision.

Mr Rangaiz’s supporters insisted those who had no political status and didn’t have any experience regarding elections were opposing Rangaiz’s candidature from PK-49.

However, sources said party’s former chairman and jailed leader Imran Khan had decided to give tickets to those who did not leave the party the post-May 9 mayhem. They added that Mr Rangaiz was one of the leaders, who stood loyal to the party through thick and thin.

The jirga members also met Asad Qaiser and requested him to replace Rangaiz with someone from Topi. However, sources said Mr Qaiser was not interested to pick a replacement for Mr Rangaiz.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Khitab, former PTI district deputy general secretary, in a statement on Sunday said the jirga members had nominated Salim Khan Jadoon for PK-49.

He said the jirga had also nominated Haji Umat Khan Jadoon for NA-19, wherefrom Asad Qaiser is also contesting.

He asked Mr Qaiser and Mr Rangaiz to respect the jirga decision.

Mr Khitab said workers were real strength of the party and once the two leaders agreed to the jirga-nominated candidates it would prove that PTI was an ideological and democratic party.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2024