- Local leadership warns of protests if Ilyas Mehrban denied ticket in favour of Aamir Kiyani
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) stands undecided and divided as it fails to finalise its candidates for the three constituencies of Islamabad, and fissures have erupted between the local leadership and party’s top brass at choosing Amir Kiyani against Ilyas Mehrban – the former candidate who bagged more than 60,000 votes in last general elections, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Sources told Pakistan Today that the local leadership has threatened to initiate protests outside party chief Imran Khan’s residence if Ilyas Mehrban, a local leader and longtime party loyalist, was denied party ticket. The party high-ups, however, are considering PTI North President Amir Kiyani for the ticket.
Anticipating a strong reaction from the local tiers of leadership, the party has halted the announcement of party tickets for capital at the moment.
Sensing the anger, the PTI chief has reiterated that party tickets will be given on merit alone. The local leadership comprising of UC chairman, counsellors and members have met Asad Umer and delivered their concerns saying that they won’t tolerate any outsider taking place of a local leader who has been loyal and working at the grass root level.
Asad Umer too endorsed the services rendered by Ilyas Mehrban in these meetings.
It is pertinent to mention that the scrutiny committee formed by the PTI too has given most marks to Ilyas Mehrban, followed by opposition leader in Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad Ali Awan, while Amir Kiyani scored the lowest.
Islamabad previously had two constituencies namely NA-48, which was largely urban and NA-49, which predominantly had rural areas and housing societies. However, after the latest delimitation, another constituency was added and at present, the capital has three constituencies namely NA-52, NA-53 and NA-54, according to the ECP data.
It is pertinent to mention here that the new constituency is carved out of what was previously NA-49, along with some parts of NA-48 that is Islamabad’s other National Assembly constituency. The new constituencies of NA-52 and 53 constitute what was previously NA-49.