PESHAWAR: The PML-N leaders have developed differences over the nomination of the members of the committee formed for the local government elections in the province.

They criticised each others for harming party interests at a time when other parties are trying to sort out internal issues in order to win the maximum seats in the upcoming polls.

A meeting of the PML-N office-bearers and election committee members took place at the party’s provincial secretariat with provincial president Pir Sabir Shah in the chair here on Tuesday.

However, many senior leaders opted not to show up.

An insider said differences on the basis of senior and junior workers were widening and that if corrective steps were not taken without delay, the party won’t be able to achieve targets in the LG elections.

PML-N Peshawar district president Abdul Sattar Khalil and MPA Arbab Akbar Hayat had hot exchanges when the latter recalled his association with former military ruler Pervez Musharraf and claimed he won last elections on the basis of his services rendered during the army-led government.

The district president issued show cause notice to the party’s provincial information secretary, Nasir Khan Musazai, for launching election campaign on Tuesday saying it is a violation of the party’s discipline.

Information secretary gets notice for violating discipline

Engineer Amir Muqam, adviser to the prime minister, was the chief guest in the public meeting where the election campaign was launched.

According to the source, the maximum of the senior party activists including Pir Sabir Shah took it very serious when Akbar Hayat said he had won the provincial assembly seat due to his long association with PML-Q and maximum of them started shouting on the MPA.

“We asked the MPA to resign and contest the election again to judge his position,” Rashid Mehmood Khan, provincial vice president of the party, told Dawn.

He said he had withdrawn his candidature against Akbar Hayat from PK-8 Peshawar and therefore, he won elections. Rashid said Nasir Musazai was given a show cause notice for violating the party’s discipline.

“We have formed the election committee to seek applications from the aspiring candidates and supervise the election process but the provincial secretary information is not following the party policy,” he said.

PML-N Peshawar district president Abdul Sattar said a show cause notice had been issued to Nasir Khan Musazai to clear his position within one week about the launch of election campaign before the party’s decision.

“He should clarify position otherwise disciplinary action will be taken against him,” he said.

When contacted, Musazai said he had done nothing wrong and held a public meeting in NA-4 constituency to mobilise workers for local government elections.

“I am a party worker and will continue to work for the party. I will not reply to the show cause notice. The district president is free to do whatever he wishes,” he said.

Musazai said he had worked hard in the NA-4-Peshawar constituency and planned to defeat the rest of parties in the local government elections.

He said the party’s LG committee had so far not contacted him and the elections were drawing nearer.

“I have no objection if the committee nominates anyone from my village. I will work whoever reasonable person is named as a candidate,” he said.

PML-N provincial general Secretary Rehmat Salam Khattak was not available despite repeated attempts.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2015

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