UPPER DIR: Serious differences have surfaced in the local chapters of almost all major political parties including PTI, PPP and JI ahead of general elections.

The rift among workers of political parties has badly affected their election campaigns. The disciplined JI, that has been winning elections since long in Upper Dir, is also facing internal wrangling. Two of its local leaders -- Sahibzada Sibghatullah and Malak Hayat -- have joined PTI and PML-N respectively.

Now Sibghatullah is contesting elections for NA-5 on PTI ticket and Malak Hayat Khan for PK-11 on PML-N ticket against the JI candidates.

Candidates of PTI, JI and PPP are opposed by workers in several constituencies

According to sources, JI terms Malak Hayat Khan a potential threat to its candidate as all disgruntled workers of party are supporting him.

Similarly, in PK-10, former MPA Mohammad Ali is facing his party’s dissident workers and annoyed voters. They blame him for his poor performance as MPA.

The insiders say that their dream of sweeping elections in the district like the past can be shattered owing to internal differences. They say that supporters of the party have been divided as they will vote for Inayatullah Khan in PK-12, however, some of them will not vote for JI candidate for NA-5 Sahibzada Tariqullah.

Although the JI leaders were denying internal differences in the beginning, yet they kept mum over the issue after quitting of party by the two prominent persons.

Like JI, PPP is also suffering from internal differences. Former MPA Mohammad Anwar Khan has been sidelined by the local chapter as he has not been awarded ticket for PK-12.

Although, Anwar Khan has withdrawn his nomination papers, yet he still has differences with former minister Najamuddin Khan.

Insiders claim that supporters of Anwar Khan will not vote for Najamuddin Khan, the PPP candidate for NA-5 and PK-12. In PK-10, PPP candidate Malak Badshah Salih also faces annoyed workers of the party. However, he has succeeded to woo most of them.

PTI, which is considered a serious threat to JI and PPP, has also failed to end internal differences. The PTI workers show unity in supporting the party candidate for NA-5, Sibghatullah, however they seem divided when it comes to support the party candidates for provincial assembly seats.

Some local leaders of PTI are opposing their party candidates, especially Hamida Shahid, who is nominee of PTI for PK-10. Insiders say that many local leaders of the party are not supporting Hamida Shahid.

Abdul Latif, a PTI district councillor, has decided to contest elections as an independent candidate for PK-10 after being ignored by the party. He along with his supporters in PTI is running campaign against the party candidate, Hamida Shahid.

Similarly, PTI candidates for PK-11 and PK-12 are opposed by their party members.

The leaders of these parties are struggling to overcome the internal differences but so far they have made little success.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2018