Islamabad: All the three major political parties of Pakistan are struggling to satisfy their workers on the tickets distribution for the July 25 polls.
Workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) as well as the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have been protesting after the tickets distribution.
To pacify the workers, the parliamentary board of the PTI has awarded tickets to more applicants, including ex-federal minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Sheharyar Afridi and former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister Shaukat Yousafzai, amid cheers and an air of resentment.
The PTI chairman Imran Khan is in Saudi Arabia along with his spouse Bushra Bibi to perform Umrah (mini-pilgrimage).
Moreover, the PTI has taken a bold decision of fielding a female candidate, Hameeda Shahid from Lower Dir for a provincial assembly seat. The region made headlines during the last elections when women voters were not allowed to exercise their right to vote.
Ali Muhammad Khan, who has been vocal in defence of the party, particularly on the media, is not sure of getting a nod from the parliamentary board, as survey in the constituency will determine his fate.
In Sindh, the PPP is also in hot water over awarding party tickets, while the PML-N and PTI are also under pressure. The PPP leadership is struggling to settle down the party tickets issues.
In Karachi, the party workers are protesting over not awarding ticket to Sajid Jokhio, former provincial minister. Jokhio has differences with Hakeem Baloch group and Jokhio is likely to join alliance of local political figures.
The PPP popular leader in Jamshoro Malik Asad is not happy with the strategy in awarding tickets in the district.
Malik Asad, who remained unchallengeable leader during the last 30 years, reportedly has some land dispute with a party’s top leader. He is planning to contest election on three provincial and one National Assembly seat of the province if the party did not award him tickets.
Media reports said differences have also emerged between the groups led by former chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and former provincial minister Manzoor Wasan. The differences could not be resolved as Qaim Ali Shah left a meeting chaired by Faryal Talpur for mitigating the differences.
