SWABI: Serious efforts by some leaders of Awami National Party here are underway to bring a consensus candidate for the party’s district president slot.

Party sources told this correspondent here on Friday that election for the district president was a highly critical issue because in the past decade a pattern had developed that if there was an intra-party election the loser group never worked afterwards, causing a permanent rift in the party and weakening its position in the district.

When contacted, various local leaders said that the provincial and central leadership should take interest in the party affairs and decide the district office-bearers through a consensus instead of the complicated election process.

Two leaders of ANP have so far shown their intent to contest the district president election after completion of the ongoing membership drive.

The district president’s slot had fallen vacant after former president Ameer Rehman went to US. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders had registered an FIR against him in a murder case that had occurred on the day of general elections.

Awwal Sher Khan, former provincial minister, has expressed his desire to contest the election. When contacted, he said that a jirga of the party leaders had visited his residence and asked him to contest the election for president. “However, I think that developing a consensus is the best option as we need unity,” he said.

Similarly, Amanullah, uncle of Mr Ameer, had also announced that he would participate in the election. Late Haji Rehmanullah, Mr Amanullah’s brother, had remained the district president for two and a half decades. Insiders said that Rehmanullah had remained very close to Wali Bagh leaders and those who opposed him were kicked out of the party. They said that if the top leadership supported Mr Amanullah he might become the next president.

However, the local leaders believe that at this stage the party needs such leaders who could unite the workers and once again make it a political force in the district.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2019