SWABI: Cracks have surfaced in the district chapter of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz here after the sudden resignation of its district general secretary Haji Dildar Khan a few days ago, insiders said.

Sources in the party told this correspondent on Friday that Mr Dildar remained the party’s district general secretary for about three decades and worked as member of the central and provincial councils. He had also contested election from a provincial assembly constituency in 2008 and 2013, but could not win.

The sources said that Mr Dildar’s main complaint was that he was ignored on various occasions, recalling that before the 2018 general elections Swabi Qaumi Mahaz chairman Babar Saleem joined the PML-N and he was assured about award of party ticket by provincial president Amir Muqam.

The insiders said that the party ticket was then awarded to Mr Babar and Mr Dildar was assured by Mr Muqam and central leaders that he would be given the Senate ticket. They said that when the Senate election came he was told that he was not a proper candidate for the technocrat seat. On this, he immediately presented the documents of his son, Rehman Alam Khan, but he too was ignored.

The sources said that he was also annoyed when on the directives of Mr Muqam changes were made in the district office-bearers and Mr Dildar was kept general secretary. They claimed that disappointed by the provincial leadership’s decisions Mr Dildar decided to tender resignation.

When contacted, PML-N divisional senior vice-president Iftikhar Ahmad Khan said that they were hopeful that Mr Dildar would review his decision and return to play active role in the party.

When contacted, Mr Dildar said that he would live as a true leader of PML-N, but he could no longer work as general secretary.

CORONAVIRUS TEST: A student, who returned from a university in China on February 1 and was suffering from fever and cough, has been kept here in isolation ward of Bacha Khan Hospital Complex, Shahmansoor, for suspected coronavirus.

The student, Mohammad Uzair, belongs to Kalabat village of Topi tehsil.

When contacted, district health officer Dr Mohammad Tariq said on Friday that they had taken blood sample of Mr Uzair, which had been sent to the National Institute of Health, Islamabad. “The test result is expected to be received by Saturday (today),” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2020