SWABI, July 14: The provincial leadership of Awami National Party failed to end differences in the district chapter of the party as the lunch arranged by Jehanzeb Khan group was not attended by Rehmanullah group on Thursday.

Members of both the groups had held a meeting in Bacha Khan Markaz, the head office of the party in Peshawar, with provincial leaders Lateef Afridi, Imran Afridi and Baz Mohammad Khan on July 7 and promised that they would stop talking against each other.

To restore cordial relations between the rival groups, it was decided in the meeting that each of them would arrange a lunch or dinner party for the other.

Before the Bacha Khan Markaz agreement, the provincial leaders had visited the district and met with leaders of both the groups but failed to end the rift.

After the Bacha Khan Markaz talks, Jehanzeb Khan told this correspondent, the provincial leaders agreed to hand over 5,000 membership forms to his group. However, he warned if a single form was given to Rehmanullah group then they would not fill the membership forms as leaders but just as workers.

The Rehmanullah group had already received 6,000 membership forms.

Salim Khan, former provincial general secretary of ANP, said that Lateef Afridi and Imran Afridi attended the launch party at Jehanzeb's residence but Rehmanullah and his supporters did not turn up.

“We agreed at Bacha Khan Markaz meeting that we would not talk against each other. However, Jehanzeb Khan group held a meeting in Yar Hussain and openly criticised our group. So the verbal agreement is no longer intact.

That's why we did not attend the lunch,” said Rehmanullah.

He said that his group upheld the agreement but his rivals violated it. “In such a situation how was it possible for us to attend the party,” he asked. However, he admitted they were invited to the lunch.

Insiders said that differences in the district chapter of ANP would intensify in the next few days as membership drive of the party would be ended on July 15, followed by nomination of district office-bearers.

“The reconciliation between the two groups is a challenge for provincial leaders. If they fail then there is a possibility of intervention by Azam Hoti or Asfandyar Wali Khan to settle the matter,” sources said.