SWABI, June 19: The Awami National Party’s Swabi district president and general secretary resigned from their party offices here on Wednesday. However, the party leadership has immediately launched efforts to convince the two on taking back resignation.

Haji Rehmanullah, who remained the district president for over 25 years and was twice elected as MNA on the ANP ticket announced his resignation from the party position during a gathering of workers at his residence.

ANP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Afrasiab Khattak, former information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain and other leaders were also present on the occasion.

Mr Rehmanullah was one of the most influential politicians who continued to dominate the ANP’s affairs for over two and a half decades. During this period other leaders made serious efforts to dislodge him from the slot of district president, but Wali Bagh leaders always stood firm behind him. Even such conspiracies were made by key party leaders against him just a few months before May 11 elections.

Mr Rehmanullah declared that he had served the party for several years and his health was no longer allowing him to continue as district president. He said that he would continue to serve the party as an ordinary worker.

However, the ANP leaders said that the main reason for Mr Rehmanullah’s resignation was that for the first time the ANP could not win even a single seat from the district.

Similar announcement of resignation was also made by Tamraiz Khan, district general secretary, in the gathering. Mr Tamraiz told this correspondent that a resolution was also passed in the gathering, urging them to take back their resignation. “We have not yet made any decision,” he said.

However, soon after the gathering the ANP working committee held its meeting at Rehmanullah’s residence and continued their talks with the two leaders for several hours to convince them on taking back their resignation.