PML-N president Mian Nawaz Sharif. — File Photo

PESHAWAR: At a time when most of the political parties are strengthening their position by enticing workers of rival groups, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz faces a threat of losing key leaders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa if their reservations are not removed swiftly.

Owing to internal differences the party has to delay naming of its provincial office-bearers for over a year, but its effort to keep the dispersed activists united are yet bear fruit.

PML-N president Mian Nawaz Sharif visited Peshawar on December 28 and held meetings with the disgruntled leaders, particularly former central general secretary Saranjam Khan and former provincial minister Abdul Subhan Khan, but his efforts to satisfy these leaders remained fruitless.

Though, Mr Saranjam turned up at the council meeting at Nishtar Hall on December 28, but walked out in protest when Rehmat Salam Khattak’s name was announced as provincial general secretary.

Three candidates, including Shazia Aurangzeb, Mr Khattak and Mehr Sultana, were in the run and their respective supporters were shouting slogans and as result of the disturbance Mr Sharif had to come to the rostrum where the women withdrew their papers and resultantly Mr Khattak was declared successful.

Ms Shazia was the nominee of Mr Saranjam and as she withdrew her papers he along with his supporters left the hall.

Mr Sharif had arrived a day before the council meeting to meet and woo the disgruntled leaders, but the issues remained unresolved. Both Mr Saranjam and Mr Subhan have resigned from their party offices and are likely to form a pressure group in the party.

“A party delegation, including Anwar Kamal Marwat and Farid Toofan, came to my residence and assured me of meeting our demands within 10 days. A meeting with Mr Sharif has is also being planned in Islamabad to review these issues. Let’s see what happens,” Mr Saranjam told Dawn on Sunday.

About his conditions, he said that Mr Khattak should be replaced and the party office-bearers at Mardan and Karak re-appointed. “Otherwise none of my friends is ready to accept leadership of Mr Khattak and thus our ways will be separate,” he said.

However, Mr Saranjam said he would remain a Muslim Leaguer as in this age he could not join any other party though he was contacted by PTI chairman Imran Khan and PML-Q provincial president Amir Muqam for his support.

He said that his nominee Ms Shazia was compelled to withdraw in favour of Mr Khattak, but she could not disclose the details due to fear of Mr Sharif.

Abdul Subhan, on the other hand, even avoided attending the December 28 council meeting where he was appointed provincial vice-president, the seat he refused.

Mr Subhan said he did not accept the provincial council as an independent body, as its members were nominees of Mr Khattak and Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, who, he added, was against Saranjam group.

“According to the party constitution no one can become member of the provincial council if he/she has spent less than three years in the party, but those recently joining the party were also appointed members of the council,” he revealed.

Mr Subhan said that party leadership had failed to redress grievances of the party activists and leaders and that was why staunch leaders like Javed Hashmi had left the party.

He claimed that the party had parallel groups in every district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said that meetings of old workers had been planned in Mardan to decide future line of action for getting their rightful place in the party.

“During his government Pervez Musharraf had offered me Rs20 million for his support when Nawaz family was out of the country, but I rejected the offer and then faced police actions and imprisonment only for the party cause,” he recalled.

Mr Subhan said he did not attend the council meeting as Mr Sharif had already disclosed his decision that he wanted Mr Khattak as provincial secretary despite opposition by majority.

When contacted, Mr Khattak told this correspondent that efforts were being made to remove differences in the party, as replacement of anyone in the provincial cabinet was impossible.