CHAKWAL: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has re-nominated retired Col Sultan Surkhru Awan as its candidate from PP-23 constituency, a day after he was replaced by Sardar Saad Hayat Tamman.

In a sudden move, the party had nominated Tamman as its candidate from PP-23 in place of Mr Surkhru, which did not go down well with the party workers who took to social media to criticise the move.

On the other hand, Saad Tamman is a new entrant and his uncle Sardar Mansoor Hayat Tamman is the leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

On Tuesday, PTI’s senior vice president in Talagang Malik Sher Awan along with Barrister Umair Niazi, who is PTI’s additional general secretary and focal person of PTI’s incarcerated chairman Imran Khan on legal affairs, visited Adiala jail where Mr Niazi met Imran Khan and briefed him about the sudden change of candidate in PP-23.

“Imran Khan expressed his strong reaction and ordered to re-nominate Mr Surkhru forthwith,” Malik Sher Awan said.

Later PTI leader Shibli Faraz sent a message to Saad Tamman informing him about Imran Khan’s decision.

Mr Tamman said he accepted the party’s decision and would work with the same spirit and dedication.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2024