MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 4: Show cause notices were served upon four leaders of the main opposition People’s Party in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (PPAJK) “for not supporting the party candidate” in the recently held by-poll.

According to PPAJK president Sahibzada Mohammad Ishaq Zaffar, the notices were served on the party’s former secretary information Khawaja Farooq Ahmed, former MLA Syed Manzoor Shah, former mayor Syed Nisar Gillani and former deputy chief organizer Shaukat Javed Mir “under the directions of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto”.

“These leaders have been given 15 days to explain why they did not support their party candidate Mohammad Hanif Awan in the by-election of Sept 26,” Mr Zaffar told Dawn on Tuesday.

Mr Awan lost the election by more than 7,000 votes to ruling Muslim Conference candidate Syed Murtaza Gillani whereas an independent candidate, Sabira Gillani, was runner-up.

Mr Zaffar said the PPP chairperson had told him that none of those who held any position in the party should be spared for violation of party discipline.

Of the former deputy chief organizer, who is also PRO to the Leader of the Opposition in AJK Assembly Barrister Sultan Mahmood, Mr Zaffar said there were confirmed reports that he was using the opposition leader’s chamber against the party’s interests.

He said he was not in favour of the four leaders’ expulsion from the party but wanted to enforce checks and balances in the party.

It may be recalled that Mr Ahmed, who has fought all previous elections from this constituency as a PPAJK candidate, had declined to contest the by-election on account of his physical condition as well as prolonged illness of his paralysed wife currently undergoing treatment in the UK.

Mr Ahmed left for the UK three days before the by-election but prior to his departure he had addressed a number of corner meetings in support of Mr Awan.

Similarly, party sources said, there had not been any evidence of Mr Mir’s involvement in any activity against Mr Awan during the election campaign.