MINGORA, Sept 7: Differences have cropped up in Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), Swat chapter, and it stands divided into two groups with each claiming to be loyal to party chairman Imran Khan.

Sources said that while the party’s provincial leaders, mainly Asad Qaiser and Pervaiz Khattak, are striving to strengthen their personal positions, the PTI also suffered a setback in Swat as it stands divided into Dr Amjad and Dr Inayat groups.

These groups are levelling allegations against each other and holding separate corner meetings to gain support of workers. The Amjad group is supporting Mr Qaiser, while Inayat group is backing Mr Khattak for the party’s provincial slot.

Party sources claimed the Sept 25 visit of Imran Khan to Swat was postponed owing to the tussle between the district leadership. They said that the provincial leadership was aware of the tussle, but nobody was ready to resolve these differences.

In such a situation the party workers here are in a quandary, as all is set for the intra-party election slated for Sept 15.

Mr Amjad, who is district chief of the party, told this scribe that he was leading the genuine group having support of party workers. He claimed that the rival group was creating problems for the party and pressing it to get ticket in coming elections.

He defended his stand of backing Mr Qaiser for the slot of provincial chief, saying he was an ideological leader.

However, Arif Khan, who is a supporter of Inayat group and member of district executive council of PTI, told this correspondent that the party was facing crisis due to irresponsible attitude of Mr Amjad. He said that soon after becoming district president Mr Amjad took unconstitutional decisions by issuing show cause notices to party’s founding leaders, including Fazal Ahad, Mr Asad, Shoaib Khan and others.

He claimed that 18 of 25 members of district executive council had tabled no-confidence against Mr Amjad. He also criticised Mr Qaiser for his role in the ongoing tussle.

Another party leader Sharafat Ali told this correspondent that Mr Inayat was defeated in the 2008 election as PTI candidate for the provincial assembly seat. He said that later Mr Inayat contested nazim (local government) election from the ANP platform and faced defeat. He said that Mr Inayat was not devoted to any party.

Another local PTI activist Mohammad Naeem suggested that leaders of both groups should thrash out there differences through negotiations.

One Fazal Ahad said that he joined PTI on in December 2002 to serve the people of Swat, but was fed up with internal division and policies of Dr Amjad and former divisional organiser Nek Mohammad.

Senior party leader Dr Javed said that both the groups were fighting just for getting party ticket and serving their personal interests. He said they were not sincere with the party.