Many people may feel surprised but there are reports that the bandits sheltering in katcha area of Rahim Yar Khan in southern Punjab, who are notorious for kidnapping people for ransom and other heinous crimes, have thrown their weight behind Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.   

Local councilors and chairmen union councils have alleged that they are receiving calls from the dacoits, who are pressuring them to leave their parties and join the PTI instead.  

Not only that, leaders of other political parties in the area have also alleged that they are being asked by these dacoits to switch their loyalties and join the PTI.

On the other hand, taking notice of the calls allegedly being made by dacoits to the local politicians, DPO Rahim Yar Khan Akhtar Farooq has said that every citizen is free to decide which party he or she is to join or support, and that if true the police will provide protection to these political leaders.  

The DPO has said he has even talked to the DPOs of Kashmor and Ghotki in Sindh and Rajanpur in Punjab on the issue.

He has made it clear that the police were already engaged in operation against dacoits in the katcha area and were determined to eliminate them.  

Reporter: Asim Siddique