NOWSHERA: Serious differences surfaced in the local chapter of Awami National Party as Ihrar Khattak, a senior leader of the party, announced to contest elections as an independent candidate.

He criticised the party leadership for awarding ticket for NA-25 constituency to Malik Juma Khan. He announced to contest elections as independent candidate if party high-ups did not review the decision.

Mr Khattak remained ANP district president for long time and was also a candidate of the party for the same constituency.

Senior leader of party announces to contest polls as independent candidate

“It is said that a deal has been reached between ANP and PTI in Nowshera and Mardan to award ticket to weak candidates to provide winning opportunity to Chief Minister Pervez Khattak in Nowshera and ANP leaders in Mardan,” alleged Ihrar Khattak while talking to journalists.

He appealed to ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan and members of central executive committee of the party to review the decision of awrding ticket to Malik Juma Khan for NA-25. He said that Malik Juma Khan had not even applied for the ticket.

Mr Khattak alleged that it was also reported that parliamentary board got Rs4 million for each candidate for awarded of ticket. He said that he would not quit the party but it was possible that the party terminate his membership.

He said that ANP parliamentary board awarded ticket to Malik Juma Khan and Shahid Khan Khattak unconstitutionally. He said that Shahid Khan Khattak was awarded ticket for PK-63 while he applied for PK-62.

Mr Khattak claimed that ANP workers were unhappy with the decision and waiting for reply on his appeal to review it. He said that talking to journalists on such issues was violation of party discipline but he had no other option to convey his message to the leadership.

Meanwhile, ANP district president Malik Juma Khan convened an emergency meeting of the district cabinet of the party that was attended by Noor Alam, Dost Mohammad, Shahid Barki and Naveed Khattak.

The meeting criticised Ihrar Khattak for violating party discipline.

Malik Juma Khan said that party awarded tickets on merit and councillors did not vote in favour of Ihrar Khattak. He said that ANP could not image about any deal with Pervez Khattak.

He said that Ihrar Khattak should disclose the names of those candidates, who paid money to parliamentary board for getting tickets.

ARREST: The district administration arrested three butchers for selling meat of dead animal in Akbar Pura.

Officials said that the butchers were arrested during a raid by food controller. They said that the arrested butchers admitted that they were selling meat of dead animals to different hotels in the district.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2018