SWABI, Dec 26: Differences in Swabi chapter of Pakistan People’s Party have deepened as two major groups of the party are expected to hold separate meetings here on Monday to mark the assassination day of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

One of the groups is led by Manfat Khan, the district president of PPP for the last 20 years, while the other is led by Major (retired) Fida Hussain, a friend of President Asif Ali Zardari.

The group of Mr Hussain has occupied the district office of the party, forcing the former to holds gatherings at the residences of PPP local leaders.

Both the groups clashed with each other two years ago on the birthday of Benazir Bhutto over the distribution of forms of Benazir Income Support Programme. According to insiders, the provincial and central leaders of PPP have failed to iron out differences between the two groups in the district.

Sources said that PPP workers were disturbed by the differences as they were also divided into two groups owing to rift between the two local leaders.  “Monday is the day of reconcile and if the district leaders give up their rigid positions and embrace each other it will be the great tributes by them to their leader,” said a local leader of the party.

He appealed to both the leaders to join hands and work for the implementation of the policies adopted by Benazir Bhutto. “Let us work for fulfillment of the mission of the Bhuttos, who rendered sacrifices for democracy and country,” he said. — Correpondent