Violation of rules: Rifts widen within ANP following disciplinary action

Party’s provincial, central general secretaries deny claim; say ANP will introduce election strategy

PESHAWAR: Cracks have emerged in Awami National Party after the membership of 29 ANP workers—17 from Swabi and 12 from Peshawar—was suspended on March 19 for violating party discipline during local government elections. However, the party’s provincial and central general secretaries have denied this claim.

Officials privy to the development told The Express Tribune, workers from Swabi will announce their future course of action at a news conference on Saturday. Most members have already voiced their concerns over the party’s decision to suspend their membership.

One of these members, who had served as ANP’s finance secretary in Swabi, decided to jump ship and joined Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party on March 23. Akhtar Hussain, who served as naib nazim of Salim Khan union council and whose membership was suspended for a year, told The Express Tribune, “We had opposed the awarding of tickets [for local government elections] to incompetent candidates.” According to Hussain, party workers in Swabi had repeatedly explained their position to the party’s central leadership.

“Therefore, the decision to announce disciplinary action is unwarranted,” he said. “My colleagues and I consider this decision to be unjust.”



The other view

When contacted, ANP provincial general secretary Sardar Hussain Babak said party workers have the right to react to the decision. “However, they need to show their reaction in accordance with the party’s manifesto,” he said. “We respect workers and appreciate their services. But we expect them to honour the party’s decision.”

Party insiders believe there is an ever-widening rift within ANP that is affecting the party’s position among workers and the public. However, Babak tried to dispel the impression, saying there was “complete unity within the party’s ranks and all office-bearers are acting according to their responsibilities.”

He said, “Apart from ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, who is ill, all other officeholders are active at different levels.” Babak added, “There are differences of opinion in every party. But these cannot be viewed as divisions within a party.”

Planning ahead

ANP Central General Secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain told The Express Tribune ANP will announce strategies to improve operations within the party and define its course in the next elections.

“The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led coalition government in K-P has failed on each and every front,” he said. “As a result, ANP is likely to do better in subsequent elections.” According to Mian Iftikhar, PTI leaders have failed to implement its agenda in the education and health sectors and have created problems within the civil bureaucracy.

Still standing

Although only a few ANP leaders regularly address public meetings, both Babak and Mian Iftikhar denied this reflected the level of interest shown by other party workers. They insisted ANP was the only active political force in the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2016.