SWABI: Divisions between provincial minster for elementary and secondary education Shahram Khan Tarakai and his uncles – Usman Khan and Biland Iqbal – have further widened as they held separate workers’ conventions in Swabi in connection with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s long march.

On Tuesday, Usman Tarakai, a former MNA, and Biland Iqbal, a former PTI vice-president for Peshawar region, organised a separate convention.

Earlier, Mr Shahram had also held a workers’ convention on Saturday.

Both the functions were attended by PTI leaders and workers in large numbers.

Addressing the convention, Mr Usman and Biland Iqbal claimed ideological workers had enthusiastically participated in the event on their invitation.

They said all the ideological workers would stand by Imran Khan to oust the ‘imported’ government.

Mr Usman insisted they won’t accept the decisions of a few people taken behind the closed rooms and that they would restore real democracy in the party by ending the dictatorship of a few.

“We will meet Imran Khan and inform him that the party is being held hostage by a few people in Swabi district, pushing ideological workers against the wall,” he said.

Biland Iqbal said hold of few people on the party had frustrated the workers.

Meanwhile, insiders in the Tarakai family and the ruling party told Dawn that divisions in the influential and renowned industrialists’ family would have far-reaching impact on the PTI’s position in Swabi.

“No doubt, the rivalry between the Tarakai family stalwarts will redefine the dynamics of district politics,” said a political analyst on condition of anonymity. He said it was surprising that Senator Liaqat Khan Tarakai, the father of Shahram, was silent over the matter.

Relations between Shahram and his uncles soared during the first phase of local body elections when Biland Iqbal tasted an ignominious defeat in Razaar tehsil mayor elections.

The rivalry intensified during the inauguration of Shahzeb Shaheed Degree College on Oct 17 when both Shahram and his uncles tried to inaugurate the college. Later, Mr Shahram had announced he had parted ways with his uncles.

SIX INJURED: Six people were injured when a rickshaw fell into a ravine due to over-speeding. The accident occurred on the Swabi-Jahangira Road.

Rescue 1122 teams provided first aid to the injured and later shifted them to Bacha Khan Medical Hospital.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2022