ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan said on Monday he will review the party’s decisions regarding tickets for 2018 general elections.
Addressing the disgruntled PTI members protesting outside his residence in Bani Gala, the PTI chairman said that the decision for awarding tickets was taken by the parliamentary members of the party on the basis of merit.
“If I change my decision today because of you, tomorrow more people will come here… I am not saying this because of me or my honesty.. I am saying this because I fear Allah,” Imran told the party workers.
He then urged the workers to submit review petitions, adding that he will sit with the party’s board and review the decisions in the next three days.
“Will decide on the basis of merit,” Imran said to the disgruntled workers, after listening to their grievances.
Following the party chairman’s reassurances, the protesting members ended their protest and started to disperse.
However, later on, another group of protesters emerged and began demonstrating against the “unfair” award of party tickets.
This group of protesters, around 1,500 to 2,000 in number, crossed the barrier leading to Imran’s hilltop residence and camped outside the main gate to his house.
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Imran again came out to address the protesters from behind the gate, saying he has been working for 12 hours at a stretch to resolve their grievances.
“I’m a human and humans can make mistakes,” he admitted, repeating his advice to submit petitions of grievances. The PTI chief asked the protesters to leave so the party leaders could get to work on the issue.
Imran asked the workers to trust him, giving example how he expelled 20 MPAs from the party for selling votes during the Senate elections.
Later, as the protesters attempted to barge inside, the police resorted to disperse them which resulted in a commotion.
Following that, PTI workers from Gujrat, who were protesting against the party’s seat adjustment plans with PML-Q, managed to storm Imran’s office inside his estate before being shown out by the guards.
Earlier on Monday, the PTI decided to amend the lists of party candidates nominated on reserved seats for the upcoming general election.
Media reports suggest the PTI chairman will himself prepare a new list of candidates for reserved seats.
Imran has also directed his lawyer, Babar Awan, to refer to the laws of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding submission of the new list.
The decision was reportedly taken after party leaders accused Shireen Mazari and Munaza Hassan for denying seats to ‘rightful’ female party workers in favour of their ‘favourites’ and ignored the recommendations made by the regional party presidents.
