SWABI: After expelling Senator Sitara Ayaz, the Awami National Party has issued show cause notices to five prominent leaders from Swabi district over the violation of discipline, infighting and damage to its interests.

They all were told to explain their respective positions in writing within seven days.

The development comes following a nine-day visit of ANP provincial president Aimal Wali Khan to the district.

The ANP had terminated the basic membership of Ms Sitara on Friday insisting the lawmaker acted against its interests in the district, created groups, violated discipline, and bypassed the district leadership’s instructions.

The party has already issued show cause notices to Swabi tehsil president Gul Wali Khan and general secretary Hidayat Khan for missing the public meetings of Mr Aimal.

The notices were also issued to former ANP district general secretary Mohammad Islam, Ghulam Hassan,who had contested by-election against MPA Aqibullah Khan, Topi tehsil president Pir Mohammad and general secretary Faisal Khan, and Amid Khan, who had contested the 2018 elections against nominee Abdul Karim.

When connected, Mr Faisal said he hadn’t received the show cause notice.

The other leaders also claimed that the notices had yet to reach them.

Mr Hassan said he didn’t know why he and others had been ‘targeted’.

ANP district president Amanullah told Dawn that the issuance of show cause notices to some other leaders was also on the cards as the party leadership wanted ‘fair politics and strict adherence to discipline’.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2019