KOHAT, May 9: The police detained a sitting and a former provincial assembly member of the Awami National Party on Friday to avert a clash between their groups over selling of party tickets and votes.

The police detained the provincial secretary-general of the ANP, Aurangzeb Khan, a former MPA, with dozens of party workers at city police station after he arrived at the Hazrat Haji Bahadur mosque after the Friday prayers to face MPA Qalb-i-Hassan. The police also confined Mr Hassan to his office to maintain peace.

The district Nazim had enforced Section 144 CrPC on Tuesday following the announcement by the groups to gather at the mosque and bring their sons for sacrifice.

A delegation of administration officials visited MPA Hassan on Thursday night and requested him not to visit the mosque as it might result in disturbing the peace. The MPA had agreed to the request.