SWABI: The position of Awami National Party has strengthened in the district as it has succeeded to woo some of its disgruntled workers.

Sources said that ANP leaders were supporting reconciliation efforts in the party as they were eyeing the next general elections.

They said that ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan and provincial president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti also approved the reconciliation efforts.

However, some insiders said that a lot of work was still needed if leadership really wanted to make Swabi a stronghold of ANP once again. They said that Mr Hoti had visited the residence of Arman Khan, former district general secretary of ANP, and convinced him to come back in the party fold.

Sources said that former MPA Sikandar Irfan and some other members of the party were also present on the occasion.

Party leadership supports reconciliation efforts

However, former district nazim Jehanzeb Khan did not attend the meeting owing to unknown reasons.

Tamrez Khan, former district general secretary of ANP, when contacted, said that Mr Jehanzeb, who led the annoyed group, was taken into confidence by the group leaders.

Another source said that membership of Mr Jehanzeb was suspended for a year but he did not bother to submit an application for reconsideration of the decision.

Sources said that the change came during elections of office-bearers for Swabi tehsil because former provincial minister Sitara Ayaz, Gul Zamin Shah, Ghulam Hassan and former minister Zarshaid Khan formed one group while ANP tehsil president Akmal Khan and district nazim Ameer Rehman represented another group. The annoyed group also planned to contest the elections.

The Akmal group approached the annoyed group and a formula was chalked out according to which three key slots were given to the annoyed group. Akmal, Ameer and Tamrez paid a visit to the residence of Mr Jehanzeb and he played a critical role in the elections, according to sources.

Akmal was elected tehsil president of ANP, Hameedul Haq of annoyed group was elected senior vice president, Advocate Subkhanullah became deputy general secretary and Nisar Pakhtun Yar was elected information secretary of the party for the tehsil.

Sources said that results of the elections made happy both Akmal group and annoyed group.

However, some insiders said that rift in the district chapter of the ANP still persisted.

Published in Dawn January 3rd, 2017