Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday directed party workers to run a full and comprehensive election campaign for NA-122 by-election, saying that no one is more suitable for party candidacy than Aleem Khan. PTI is facing criticism over the decision to field Aleem Khan for the crucial contest against the former National Assembly Speaker and key PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq, who was de-seated by the election tribunal on Imran's petition.
In his article on party's official website, Khan defended party's decision to field Aleem, saying that Aleem belongs to a middle class family and that he has always played an active role in party's cause.
PTI chief said that PTI has to put up a tough fight against the rival candidate.
Enumerating the reasons as to why party ticket was given to Aleem Khan, Imran Khan said that he was a graduate of Government College (GC) Lahore and high achiever in the field of real estate.
"Since I have known Aleem Khan it has also been a process of discovering his many laudable facets, especially his quiet commitment to charitable projects. When I began the NAMAL College project he was one of the first few donors and initial donations are always very difficult. He continues to donate generously to SKMTH and recently gave a huge donation to the Peshawar SKMTH project," he added.
"Aleem also runs one of the best orphanages in Lahore and is now setting up a Special Children's school Rising Sun," Khan added.
He said that Aleem Khan, Shoaib Siddiqui and Mian Aslam Iqbal ran a crucial campaign in 2013 general elections and also worked to expose the alleged election fraud.
He said Aleem remained loyal to the party despite not getting nominated as candidate in the previous elections. Talking about those criticising the decision, Imran Khan said: "all those involved in running a smear campaign against him are not Insafians. Rather, they are the Trojan horses, the fifth columnists in our midst and they are a greater danger to PTI than our external enemies and rivals."