Fida Hussnain Lahore
In an interesting development, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-Nazriati (PTI-N) Chairman Akhtar Iqbal Dar on Saturday said that, “they are the real Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf”.
Akhtar said that he was surprised to hear some rumours that some leaders of other parties approached the returning officers with the tickets of his party—with the electoral symbol of “Ballay Baaz” [a cricketer holding bat].
“This is an open forgery, and strict action should be taken against such leaders using our tickets with the electoral symbol of “Batsman,” said the PTI-N chairman while addressing a press conference on Saturday.
A message was shared earlier in the day—almost five hours ago—that Akhtar Iqbal Dar, the chairman of PTI Nazriati was going to address a press conference. The reporters and the cameramen reached there but Dar reached late from the scheduled time. Akhtar Iqbal said that he was amazed to know that from where these people [the PTI leaders] had taken tickets of his party, and then demanded action against them.
Sharing his vision as to when and why he established the PTI-N, Dar said that he joined the PTI but later realized that these were not the truthful people and then he left the party.
“I realized later that these are not the right people and then I established PTI-N,” said Akhtar Iqbal Dar. He said that the PTI-N had its own constitution and manifesto as well as a vision to address the problems of the people. He stated that there is a great need for a punishment and reward system in the country, and those who are involved in corruption must be punished.
Dar said that there is huge hustle and bustle in regard with the upcoming elections, and they also issued tickets to his party leaders. “We have issued tickets to 150 leaders,” he said.
He faced many questions but his gestures and responses looked surprising for many present there to cover the press conference. “I want to request the people of the country to rightly exercise their votes and bring all those, who caused damage to the country, to accountability,” he said.
When asked whether his party was going to take action against those who used his party tickets, Akhtar Iqbal Dar said that it was the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan. To another question about the numbers of the tickets, Akhtar Iqbal Dar said that they issued tickets in Mulan, Sialkot and other cities.
“From Faisalabad, a woman named Iqra has been issued a ticket. Rao Yasir from Multan, Saifullah from Sheikhupura”. Responding to another question as to where he had been for the last five hours, he said, “My phone’s battery was down and therefore I could not come up early,”.
To another question about whether Nawaz Sharif funded him, Akhtar Iqbal Dar said that how was it possible for him when his party’s slogan was against corruption, and he ruled out any deal with anyone.
