SWABI, July 2: The district Swabi has become a hub of political activities. In the last 15 days a numbers of leading politicians had visited here and in the next few days more leaders are expected to visit the area.
Those who visited the district were included: Awami National Party’s central president Asfandyar Wali khan, provincial president Naseem Wali Khan and its key leader Azam Hoti and PPP Sherpao’s Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and his son Sikendar Sherpao, Jamaat-i-Islami’s provincial Amir Prof Mohammad Ibrahim, central Amir of Shahab-i-Milli Pakistan Shabir Ahmed Khan, former caretaker prime minister Mustafa Jatoi and Sindh caretaker chief minister Mumtaz Bhutto and provincial education minister Syed Imtiaz Gilani.
Those who expected to visit Swabi in the first two weeks of July included: NWFP governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, Pakistan’s former president and chief of Millat Party Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, chief of Pakistan Tehrik Insaf Imran Khan and federal minister for local government Awais Ghani.
Swabi has always remained a stronghold of the ANP and it was known as the second home of Khan Abdul Ghafar Khan and Wali Khan but after developing differences with some key local leaders a leadership vacuum had been created when about five former MPA’s said goodbye to ANP. The vacuum has been further widened with the graduation condition as it deprived its former MNA and district president Haji Rehman Ullah and ex-MPA Shuaib Khan to contest the upcoming general election.
Asfandyar Wali Khan, Begum Naseem Wali Khan and Azam Hoti all have urged on their leaders and workers to create unity in their ranks and embark upon a door to door campaign.
The frequent visits of the ANP leaders has indicated that they wanted to keep Swabi their stronghold like the previous years but it needs hard work and the leadership factor will play a dominant role in the next general election.
The visit of Aftab Sherpao had surprised the local heavy weights due to two reasons: it was the first occasion that he was so warmly welcomed in Saleem Khan, Swabi, Tordher, Topi, Zaida and Karnal Sher Killi. During his visit a number of people joined his party.
Secondly, he called for creating unity among the Pakhtoon community of NWFP, Balochistan and Afghanistan. Some diehard Pakhtoon leaders had already supported him and if the remaining back his struggle it will be a turning point for Pakhtoons.
According to the Millat Party sources Farooq Leghari will visit Swabi and lower parts of Buner district and the chief of Pakistan Tehrik Insaf will participate in the party convention which is expected to be held in the second week of the current month.