PESHAWAR, Dec 24: The provincial president of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, Amir Muqam, on Saturday decided to quit the Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain-led party over differences with leadership and form own political group, Muslim League, in line with the wishes of workers and sympathisers.
The decision was made during a meeting at his residence in Swat.
Earlier, there were reports that Mr Muqam was to join Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Provincial organising provincial general secretary PML-N Rehmat Salam Khattak had repeatedly claimed that Mr Muqam would soon be part of his party without conditions.
Also, many thought that he possibly would join Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf. However, many in the Imran Khan-led party opposed his arrival declaring him a remnant of military dictator Musharraf.
PML-Q worker, Umar Hassan, told Dawn over the telephone that the meeting of party office-bearers and elected representatives was called to seek their opinion on whether to join Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or continue to work with the Chaudhrys (Shujaat Hussain and cousin Pervez Ilahi).
He said the representative meeting through a unanimously adopted resolution suggested that instead of joining any political party or accepting dictations of Chaudhrys, it would be better for them to form a separate party with the name of Muslim League before taking in disgruntled workers.
Mr Umar said participants belonged to all districts of Malakand Division, including Malakand Agency (protected area).
According to him, those who spoke on the occasion include former federal Minister Alamzeb Khan Batgram, former MNA Malik Aurangzeb of Kohistan, MPAs Mohammad Rashad Khan, Fazalullah of Shangla, Mohammad Ali Shah Bacha, Qaimoos Khan, Feroz Shah Advocate, Mian Gul Saeed Advocate, Afzal Khan Damghar, Sher Khan, Abdur Rahim, Haji Jalat Khan, Asmat Ali of Swat, former Nazim Sarzamin Khan, Bakht Rawan Khan of Buner, Sultan Yousuf Bacha, Fazal Raziq, Akhunzadaa Sikandar, Muzafar Khan of Dir upper, Javaid Tajak, Ikram Ghani Dir lower, Ahmed Zada Khan, Haji Ayub Khan,Gul Zaman of Malakand Agency and former MPA Ghulam Mohammad Khan, Saeed Ahmed Khan and Hakeem Ali of Chitral.
Mr Umar said the people of Malakand Divison had empowered Mr Muqam to form a separate party but even then he would consult his workers in all divisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on it.
“Workers convention will be held in Peshawar on Monday and Mardan division workers' convention has been scheduled on Tuesday. Similarly, dates for similar events in Hazara and Dera Ismail Khan divisions will be announced soon,” he said.
When contacted, provincial spokeswoman for PML-Q and MPA Nighat Orakzai declared Mr Muqam's step irresponsible and said she and other leaders wouldn't quit the party.
“By dividing the party into groups, no one will be able to succeed or compete rival parties,” she said, adding that following a briefing by Mr Muqam about the current changing political scenario, majority of the people spoke against central PML-Q leaders over failure to give proper attention towards the party's reorganisation and joining the federal government against the workers' will.