CHAKWAL: After the denial of ticket to the former Member of National Assembly Ayaz Amir by the Pakistan Muslim League-N, the politician has decided to support the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the upcoming elections.

“I, along with my friends, will support the PTI in every possible way,” a content Ayaz Amir declared in a press conference held at his residence on Friday.

Ayaz Amir’s close political friends such as Chaudhry Khaliq, Chaudhry Tahir Iqbal, Advocate Chaudhry Sajid Ali Beg and Advocate Chaudhry Ashfaq Kahoot were also present at the occasion.

“Let me make it clear. We are not going to join the PTI; we will simply support the candidates of PTI in every constituency of Chakwal,” he maintained.

The rebellion came after the PML-N preferred Major (retired) Tahir Iqbal over Ayaz Amir in NA 60, Taxila.

“The issue of ticket has created a new situation,” Ayaz Amir said, recalling that he had supported the PML-N in difficult times (2002 elections) when those who ruled Chakwal (from 1985 to 1997) on the PML-N ticket had joined Musharraf.

“We not only saved the name of PML-N in Chakwal, but also helped it gain influence in the district. I got record high votes in 2008 from across the province, but this time the ticket has been given to those who opposed PML-N in 2002,” he said.

Mr Amir was referring to Lt Gen (retired) Abdul Majeed Malik, a five time MNA from the PML-N ticket who had defected to the PML-Q during the Musharraf era. Mr Malik’s nephew, Major (retired) Tahir Iqbal, had served as a federal minister in the cabinet of Shaukat Aziz, but in 2008, Mr. Malik had rejoined the PML-N.

His support to the party had led to the historic victory of Ayaz Amir in NA-60, who bagged the largest number of votes in the Punjab by securing 125,437 votes.

“We could not support one side (the Sardar Ghulam Abbas Group), and were removed from the second (the PML-N). Hence, after deliberation, we decided to chose the third party that has emerged in the country for the past two years,” Ayaz Amir said.

He claimed he had wanted to quit the PML-N a year ago, but could not do so due to the pressure of his political friends in Chakwal.

“I was not the aspirant of a ticket; I was fed up of the party. I have taken a sigh of relief for being denied the ticket,” Ayaz Amir said, adding that he had been driven into politics by his friends who believed the politics in Chakwal would be one-sided if he had not come forward.

“We have strong will power and will try our best to accomplish our goals by supporting the PTI,” he said.

Ayaz Amir said that for the past four days, several leaders had tried to contact him but he had not even talked to them.

“I have not talked to any member of the PTI,” he said, “but we would fully support the PTI from Chakwal to Ta

lagang.”