MARDAN: Internal rift surfaced in the Mardan chapter of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf that may cause loss to the party in the upcoming general elections, according to sources.

They said that the party was divided into three groups that affected its political activities. “One of the groups is led by Provincial Minister Atif Khan and MNA Mujahid Khan. PTI lawmakers Iftikhar Ali Mashwani, Zahid Durrani and Tufail Anjum are leading the second group,” they added.

The insiders said that the third group was led by district bar association president Islam Khan Wardag, who had support of Riaz Paindakhel, tehsil nazim Ayub Khan, Jehanzib Afzal and PTI former district president Nasir khan.

The group led by MPAs Iftikhar Ali Mashwani, Zahid Durrani and Tufail Anjum has been levelling charges of misuse of powers against Provincial Minister Atif Khan.

Party’s three groups levelling charges against each other

The leaders of the group alleged that the minister had not only hijacked the party at district level but also influenced affairs of district administration.

They said that the minister voted for his relative Khanzada Khan, the candidate of PPP, in the Senate polls and also lobbied for him.

On the other hand, the group led by the minister levelled charges of corruption against MPA Mashwani. It alleged that the MPA embezzled millions of rupees in award of contracts for provision of furniture to government institutions.

The minister claimed that some contactors personally complained to him that the MPA was demanding bribe from them for execution of projects.

The insiders said that a committee was constituted to end rift and grouping in Mardan chapter of PTI. However, they said that the committee could not make any progress during the last one month.

Sources said that the third group was demanding of the central and provincial leadership of PTI to make all the lawmakers of the party in Mardan accountable and check their performance during the last more than four years.

The members of third group, who belong to NA-9 and PK-23 constituencies, said that PTI awarded tickets to unpopular candidates in the area during the last general elections and by-polls. They said that PTI lost elections for the slot of district nazim owing to the same reason.

They alleged that PTI candidate for PK-23 constituency was awarded ticket thrice but he lost elections every time with a big margin.

They said that the candidate was awarded party ticket because he was a blue-eyed person of Minister Atif Khan.

They said that cancellation of the scheduled visit of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to Mardan in August annoyed a large number of PTI workers. They said that local leaders were not taken into confidence in that regard.

The leaders of the group asked PTI chief Imran Khan to take immediate notice of the situation otherwise the party would suffer losses in the upcoming general elections.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2017