SWABI: The internal differences in Pakistan Peoples Party, district chapter, are hampering its plans to kick-start campaign for the next general elections in Swabi district.

PPP was the alliance partner in the Awami National Party-led provincial government after the 2008 general elections, but its leaders in the district at that time too remained divided, indulging in accusations and counter-accusations against each other.

Sources said that the relations between former district general secretary Fida Hussain and former district president Manfat Khan remained strained during the entire constitutional tenure then. In that entire tenure Mr Fida had remained dominant. However, when he was removed from the general secretary slot he joined Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf as a protest.

Later, when the provincial leadership nominated Naeem Khan as district president and Asad Khan, son of Mr Manfat, as general secretary a war of words started between the two and both refused to accept each other’s role in the party.

Party insiders told this correspondent that the two local leaders would hold separate meetings of their supporters wherein they would often criticise each other. A few months ago, the provincial leaders nominated Ali Khan as party’s district general secretary and maintained Mr Naeem as president, but this move also failed to unite the workers.

The sources said that the ongoing differences among the key leaders were causing frustration among the workers who had rendered sacrifices for the party. The workers are annoyed at the situation, saying that if the party leadership failed to take damage control steps the internal difference might get worse.

The sources said that former district president Javid Iqbal had held several meetings with both the local leaders and workers to resolve their differences, but the outcome was still awaited. They quoted Sikandar Irfan, former lawmaker who had joined PPP, as saying that co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari was expected to visit the district soon, which would be a big boost for the party.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2018