SWABI, Dec 10: Key leaders and activists of Qaumi Watan Party in Swabi district on Tuesday quit their party, citing serious differences with the central leadership. The QWP had won the provincial assembly seat from Swabi district for the first time in May 11 general elections.

They made the announcement to quit the QWP during a press conference held here at the residence of former district nazim Jehanzeb Khan. They also unanimously announced full support to Mr Jehanzeb for the future line of action.

Prominent among those who resigned from the membership of the Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao-led QWP included district vice-chairman Javid Zaman, information secretary Malik Gohar Zaman and all office-bearers of PK-35 and PK-31, except the party president in the constituency. In addition, office-bearers of union councils Kotha, Yousufi, Salim Khan, Kalabat and Maini also declared that they were no longer part of the QWP. Leaders of some other union councils and regions were also present on the occasion in support of the move.

All these leaders and activists were invited to the press conference to show that they had made a unanimous decision about quitting the party.

“We have resigned from the QWP. The Sherpao-led caravan we joined with great expectations after leaving the Awami National Party had been shattered by the party leadership themselves,” said Mr Jehanzeb. “We no longer want to continue our association with the party in the scenario of agony and differences,” he said.

A week ago, district president Fazal Wadood had also resigned from the QWP, citing personal problems. However, sources said that serious differences in the QWP ranks had led to his resignation.

He remained the party’s district president since 2002 and had contributed to the QWP’s position in critical time. “I contested elections twice and spent about Rs7.5 million for strengthening of the party,” Mr Wadood claimed when this correspondent contacted him for his comments on resignation of various leaders.

Mr Jehanzeb, who also remained district general secretary of ANP, had resigned when he developed serious differences with former district president Rehmanullah and Azam Hoti before the May 11 elections. “When Mr Hoti imposed Mr Rehmanullah on us as district president we left the party,” he recalled.

Answering a question, he claimed that following joining the QWP they came to know that all decisions in the party were being made only by provincial president, Sikandar Sherpao. “We simply don’t like one man show,” Mr Jehanzeb said.

Mr Zaman recalled that they had earlier left the ANP for the same reason of ignoring party workers.

It has been learnt that QWP chairman Aftab Sherpao had held separate meetings with Mr Jehanzeb and Mr Wadood in Islamabad, but he could not convince them to defer their decision.

The internal rivalry in the QWP has reached such a point that when this correspondent contacted its key leader after Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf expelled two QWP ministers on corruption charges, he remarked: “I am happy over it.”

Answering a question, Mr Jehanzeb said: “The ANP leadership is in contact with us and want that we should rejoin them. But it is certain that whatever decision we will make about our future it would be a unanimous decision.”