GUJRAT: Local leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf from the district are offended by the senior party leadership over treatment they received in the Oct 24 public meeting as half of the total 12 ticket holders were not allowed to sit on the main stage with Imran Khan while those present there were not allowed to even shake hands with the party chief before, at, or after the rally.

Sources in the party said before the arrival of the party chief at the Zahoor Elahi Cricket Stadium a senior party leader had issued special instructions to the PTI men from Gujrat, present at the main stage, regarding protocol which they did not like.

This had earlier been decided that most of the party ticket holders would take the main stage with Imran Khan but the district president reportedly changed the list at the eleventh hour by eliminating some names, including that of district secretary general Sharafat advocate, who was also a ticket holder from PP-113 Dinga.

Former Caretaker Chief Minister Mian Afzal Hayat, Chaudhry Saleem Sarwar Jaura, Raja Naeem Nawaz, Afzal Gondal and Nasir Chappar were the only ticket holders that were present on the stage.

One of the former ticket holders of the PTI, on condition of anonymity, said the callous attitude of the senior party leadership had disappointed local cadres of the party.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2014