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Thursday March 28, 2024

PTI leaders’ decision awaited on woman candidate in Dir polls

By Our Correspondent
April 18, 2018

DIR: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) local leadership is waiting for the party parliamentary committee decision as its Women Wing leader, Hameeda Shahid, has submitted application for the ticket to contest election for general seats from Upper Dir. She applied for ticket for the lone National Assembly seat from Upper Dir, the NA-5, (formerly NA-33), as well for a provincial assembly seat, PK-10, Dir-Kohistan.

If her request is entertained by the party parliamentary board formed for awarding tickets for election, she will create history as she will become the first woman to contest direct election from the district. There is a mix response to her decision.

A number of people are appreciating the move as a bold step while a few of them are critical of the decision.

The 44-year-old Hameeda Shahid belongs to the Paindakhail tribe. Her family migrated to Peshawar from Usheri Dara, Upper Dir for business purpose. Most of her family members (maternal uncles) in Usheri Dara are members of the Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan People's Party.

Hameeda Shahid told The News most of her relatives were part of PPP and JI. However, she joined the PTI against their wishes. She said her family members had tried hard to stop her from joining PTI.

"They tried to dissuade me from joining the PTI. But I want to serve my area people and PTI is the only party which can provide me an opportunity to serve the poor people, especially help me solve the women-related problems," she added.

Hameeda Shahid appreciated the efforts of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to declare mandatory women voting in elections. She said the decision encouraged women to come out from their homes and cast votes.

The PTI central leadership will decide finalise the award of tickets by mid-May, said the party sources. The workers and local leaders are waiting for PTI parliamentary committee's decision on request for ticket by Hameeda Shahid.

Only two candidates, Shakirullah, the tehsil councilor from Sheringal Union Council and Abdul Latif, the PTI district councilor from Palam Union Council, are aspiring for the party ticket as well to contest for PK-10 seat.