SWABI: Internal differences have marred the ongoing membership drive of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl in the Swabi district, insiders told Dawn on Wednesday.

They said a group of leaders in Chota Lahor tehsil had plainly refused to accept the elected leaders and said they had contacted the leadership over unjust distribution of forms and copies of the membership drive.

The situation also remains tense in Razaar tehsil where the JUI-F leaders have refused to accept each other.

The insiders said distribution of copies among leaders in different union councils was marred by favouritism, thus harming the membership drive, and creating divisions among the leaders and workers.

A leader said total 35 copies were distributed in Kotha union council, an area to where district chief Maulana Attaulhaq Darvaish belongs, but a total of 70 copies were distributed in Zarobi UC, the hometown of Maulana Fazal Ali, the central naib emir of JUI-F.

In Topi, when it was announced on Tuesday that Taj Nabi Khan and Maulana Roshan Zeb had been elected tehsil emir and general secretary, respectively, the latter rejected the election. He objected to the method and said no box was placed for voting and Taj group collected votes in a shawl and soon announced the results despite reservation of opponents.

Sources said various leaders demanded that the central and provincial leaders take notice of allegations and counter-allegations to save party and its future in the district.

The workers asked when prominent leaders pulled each other’s legs how the party could be strengthened at the grassroots level.

COUNCILLOR KILLED: Mohammad Shafi, general councillor from Yar Hussain union council, was killed in a road accident on Wednesday.

Police said he was returning home on a motorcycle from Yar Hussain market when his bike collided with a car. He was taken to Yar Hussain civil hospital in critical condition where the doctors pronounced him dead.

SHOPS LOOTED: Thieves looted two shops in Yar Hussain market on Tuesday night.

Traders said thieves took away Rs100,000 cash after breaking the locks of the shops.

Robbers also snatched Rs15,000 from an aged person at gunpoint in the same area. The victim said he sold fish in Yar Hussain market.

In Jaganat village, robbers deprived a man of motorcycle and Rs100,000 at gunpoint.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2019