SWABI: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) local leaders on Monday announced to resign from the basic membership of the party for having been sidelined at the behest of ‘a few dominant’ figures in the party.

They made the announcement at a press conference here.

QWP district general secretary Zahid Bacha, senior vice-president Waheedullah, vice-president-II Inayatullah Khan, information secretary Imtiaz Khan, Fateha Bacha, general secretary for PK-33, Swabi-III, Khanpush, general secretary for PK-31,Swabi-I, and president of Swabi union council Zarnush Khan made their decision to quit the party.

The decision has come at a time when the political parties have already started campaigns to woo voters for the upcoming general elections.

The body language of the leaders showed that they were unlikely to rejoin the QWP even if they were pursued by the top leadership, but they were also not sure which political party they were going to join in future.

However, insiders in the group said they wanted to remain united and would make a unanimous announcement if they joined any other party.

They alleged the officer-bearers had been ignored in the decision making process by the QWP leadership.

They said during the last five years they had been totally ignored in the party’s matters.

However, they did not explain who were the few dominant leaders influencing the party’s decision making process.

“When we tried to meet the party high command we were not allowed due to unknown reasons,” said Zahid Bacha.

The dejected QWP office holders claimed the local leadership was not loyal to the party but despite that it was dominating the affairs of the QWP.

They insisted the QWP’s mantra of struggling for the rights of Pakhtuns was hollow, only to deceive the people.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2017