ANP woos disgruntled leaders in Swabi
SWABI, Oct 15: The disgruntled office-bearers of Awami National Party have decided to take back their resignations and work hard to strengthen party in the PK-33 constituency of the district.
Led by former lawmaker Shoaib Khan, the ANP office-bearers of PK-33 had revolted against party MPA Mukhtiar Khan and tendered resignations.
However, the central and provincial leaders of ANP in a meeting held here on Monday in Yar Hussain succeeded to win back loyalty of the disgruntled office-bearers.
The meeting was attended by ANP central leader Senator Azam Khan Hoti, central deputy general secretary Tajuddin Khan, provincial general secretary Arbab Tahir, provincial salar Imran Afridi, district president Rehmanullah and MPAs Sikandar Irfan and Sarfaraz Khan Jadoon.
The annoyed office-bearers of the party had revolted against MPA Muktiar Khan and alleged that he failed to take party leadership into confidence in initiating development projects in the constituency.
Sources said that Mukhtiar Khan did not attend the meeting as he was no longer in the good books of party leadership because he was part of the group that revolted against Haji Rehmanullah. Other members of that group had already been expelled from the party.ANP district general secretary Tamraiz Khan, when contacted, said that Mukhtiar was bitterly criticised by the party leaders, who lauded the role of the disgruntled office-bearers.
Sources said that Shoaib and other office-bearers agreed to take back their resignation, vowing that they would work for strengthening the party. They said that those, who failed to work according to the expectations of the party leadership, would face disciplinary action.
Mr Hoti told the meeting that there was dire need of unity among Pakhtuns. He said that Pakhtunns could emerge victorious from the challenges being faced by them at that critical juncture of their history if they forged unity.
The other leaders of the party told works to accelerate the mass contact campaign as general elections were drawing near. They said that they would seek votes from people on the basis of performance of their party.