On Friday, the PTI issued a show-cause notice to Senator Saifullah Abro, a party-affiliated candidate for the February 8 elections in NA-194, after he withdrew from the race in favor of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to revoke the PTI’s electoral symbol ‘bat’ and deemed its intra-party polls as “unconstitutional.” Consequently, the PTI fielded its leaders as independent candidates with various symbols.
Abro’s decision to switch to the PPP followed a meeting with Bilawal in Lahore, as confirmed in Abro’s social media post. He stated, “I am withdrawing in favor of Bilawal and have decided to compete with the tiger (PML-N).”
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Bilawal expressed gratitude for Abro’s support, urging PTI workers nationwide to vote for the PPP’s arrow on Feb 8. He called for strategic voting to thwart PML-N and requested political workers from all parties to vote wisely.
In response, the PTI issued a show-cause notice to Abro, citing grave indiscipline for violating party policy. The notice, issued by PTI General Secretary Omar Ayub Khan, directed Abro to provide a written response within three days.
Bilawal had previously urged PTI supporters at a rally not to waste their votes on independent candidates and instead choose PPP candidates. He framed the election as a contest between two parties and encouraged PTI supporters to vote strategically to hinder PML-N’s progress, emphasizing the significance of stamping the arrow of PPP.
PTI’s Notice to Senator Abro for Withdrawing in Bilawal’s Favor
