LANDI KOTAL/PESHAWAR, March 19: The intra-party elections held by Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) resulted in intensifying differences in its Khyber Agency chapter as a group in the party refused to accept results of the polls.

The three member election committee comprising Advocate Saadullah Khan, Advocate Sohail and Advocate Javedullah had declared on March 17 Iqbal Afridi as president-elect of PTI Khyber Agency chapter.

The committee said that Mr Afridi secured 319 votes against his rival Ameenzada, who got 179 votes. Other offices were also grabbed by Iqbal Afridi group.

“We have reservations about the results of intra-party elections as the rival group sabotaged the voting process and physically stopped our supporters from casting votes,” alleged Ameenzada.

He said that his group had lodged a written complaint with Qazi Anwar, PTI provincial election commissioner, for a review of the election results and announcing fresh date for re-elections.

Ameenzada also criticised the three member election committee for changing the venue of election without taking his group into confidence. “It was mutually agreed that elections would be held at Bagh-i-Naran in Peshawar to facilitate maximum number of our registered voters,” he said. He alleged that the polling station was later shifted to a wedding hall and then to another venue on Ring Road at the behest of his rival group.

“The intention was to facilitate supporters of our rival group, residing at Jalozai camp, and distract our supporters, who were coming from Landi Kotal and Jamrud,” Ameenzada said.

He said that the election results were not acceptable to them as the voter list displayed at the polling station was also different from the one they were provided with a week before the elections.

“Names of a number of our supporters were missing from the voters list and we tried to explain our point of view to the returning officers but they too refused to listen to our arguments,” he insisted.

He accused supporters of his rival group of snatching polling boxes from the returning officers three hours before the polling time.

Iqbal Afridi, when contacted, levelled similar charges against his rival group. “I have video footages of rival group supporters vandalism and physical assault on my supporters,” he claimed.

He alleged that some of his rivals used abusive language against him and the returning officers. He said that members of his rival group resorted to violence when they saw hundreds of his supporters flocking the polling station at around midday.

However, he said that he was ready for re-elections any time and at any venue.

Meanwhile, PTI provincial election commissioner Advocate Qazi Anwar has said that they have completed intra-party elections in five tribal agencies and six semi-tribal regions.

Addressing a press conference in Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, he said that names of the winning candidates were already announced.

He said that intra-party elections were held in Kurram, Khyber, Orakzai, South and North Waziristan agencies and six frontier regions in a peaceful and transparent manner.

Mr Anwar said that elections were postponed in Mohmand and Bajuar agencies owing to clashes among PTI workers at the polling stations. He said the elections would be rescheduled in both tribal agencies shortly.

Mr Anwar said they had conducted intra-party elections despite challenges and threats in a free and transparent manner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PTI had made a history by holding intra-party elections at union council, district and provincial levels, he said, adding that the party had set good precedent for other political parties in the country.