SWABI, June 10: Serious differences have cropped up in the Awami National Party (ANP), Swabi chapter, over the induction of Swabi Qaumi Mahaz (SQM) leaders and issues related to the upcoming local intra-party elections, insiders told this correspondent here on Friday.

They said that currently, when the membership drive is continuing, the party was divided into two groups; one led by ANP’s former district president Haji Rehmanullah and the other by former general secretary Jehanzeb Khan. Mr Rehmanullah, who was twice elected MNA, has remained the party president for the last 16 years.

The rift between the two groups has also divided the party’s ministers, leaders and workers in the district.

The ANP sources said that the chief minister’s advisor Mukhtiar Khan, social welfare minister Sitara Ayaz, Sarfaraz Jadoon MPA, party’s senior vice-president Hanif Gul Jadoon were siding with Mr Jehanzeb.

However, MNAs Pervez Khan and Bushra Gohar and MPAs Sikandar Irfan and Yasmeen Jasim have not yet plunged into the fray.

“The rivalry in the party is very much there and the central leaders are studying the whole scenario,” said a senior leader of the party, who opted not to be named.

The insiders said that the simmering rivalry between the two groups surfaced when former SQM leader Mohammad Naeem joined ANP on April 6.

The sources said that Mr Jehanzeb had been complaining that Mr Rehmanullah kept him in the dark about the development, as he (Jehanzeb) and Mr Naeem were locked in an old enmity. They said that Mr Jehanzeb was also not taken into confidence when former SQM leader Awwal Sher and former Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party leader Arshad Khan were joining the ANP.

The sources claimed that Mr Jehanzeb had held a meeting with like-minded leaders on May 20 at Amania hotel (Attock), in which they showed unity against Mr Rehmanullah. It was attended among others by chief minister’s advisor Mukhtiar Khan, MPA Sarfaraz Jadoon and several district leaders, they said.

They said that they organised second meeting at hujra of Hanif Gul Jadoon in Malikabad, which also constituted a 12-member organising committee comprising Mukhtiar, Jehanzeb, Mohammad Younas, Sarfaraz Jadoon and others.

The sources said that a detailed report about the party tussle had been sent to Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti, who had referred the same to his father, Azam Hoti. They said that Jehanzeb group also met with Azam Hoti in Mardan a few days ago and he was apprised of the entire situation.

The insiders said that the group besides other complaints also alleged that 8,800 membership forms given by the party to Mr Rehmanullah were not shared with them and other party stalwarts. “Mr Rehamnullah plans to nominate Tappa (ward) leaders of his own choice who would later elect him (as district president of the party),” they claimed.

It has been learnt that Mr Rehmanullah has been keeping a close watch on the situation and he has also accelerated his contact drive.