Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Hafiz Saeed’s MML deny ticket to PSGPC general secretary

AMRITSAR

: Former Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician

Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

(PTI) and Mumbai terror attack accused Hafiz Saeed-led Mili Muslim League (MML) has denied ticket to Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (

PSGPC

) general secretary Gopal Singh Chawla, who was willing to contest from Nankana Sahib provincial assembly constituency during Pakistan’s general elections slated for July 25.

Intelligence sources here told TOI on Thursday that Chawla had sought provincial assembly ticket of Nankana Sahib from both PTI and MML, but was denied the same.

“Despite Chawla’s anti-India rantings, neither the PTI nor the MML found him an appropriate candidate since he didn’t have any support of local Sikh’s of Nankana Sahib,” sources said, adding that Chawla had also put up his posters in Nankana Sahib, but was denied PTI ticket at the last moment .

The PTI has now fielded Brig Ijaz Ahmad Shah (retd) to contest from Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Sikh’s first master Guru Nanak Dev.

In April, Chawla had not only organised a political convention of the MML, a political front of Hafiz Saeed’s terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), at Nankana Sahib, but had also accorded a warm welcome to MML president Saifullah Khalid.

“We have information that Chawla had staked claim on Nankana Sahib ticket from MML depending on his anti-India blurts,” sources said, adding that since Chawla didn’t have local support, he was dropped by the MML.

Sources added that the MML was supporting PTI candidate Izaz Shaw at Nankana Sahib.

Meanwhile Chawla, in a video message posted on social media , admitted that he had sought to contest on PTI ticket from Nankana Sahib from minority quota, but the party had denied him the opportunity.