Internal groupings harm PTI in Mardan

MARDAN: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is divided into two groups in the district, party sources said.

It is alleged that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak is supporting one group while the other is being led by provincial Minister for Education Mohammad Atif Khan, who belongs to Mardan.

“As the next general election is drawing near, the rift among the PTI leaders in Mardan district is expected to widen,” a political observer opined.

Rumour has it that Iftikhar Ali Mashwani, who is an MPA and chairman of the District Development Advisory Committee in Mardan, has been at loggerheads with Atif Khan.

Atif Khan had brought Iftikhar Mashwani to PTI and helped him get ticket for provincial assembly constituency PK-26 in the last general election, the sources said.

When PTI came into power in the province after the 2013 general election, relations between Iftikhar Mashwani and Atif Khan remained cordial, but later the two started having differences.

The sources added that a few weeks ago a contractor complained to Atif Khan that the assistant director Local Government Department had violated merit in the allotment of tenders for development projects.

Atif Khan got the assistant director in question transferred and this issue reportedly fuelled differences between the education minister and Iftikhar Mashwani. 

Slogans were reportedly raised against Iftikhar Mashwani at a public gathering organised in PK-26 constituency from where he was elected. The event was also addressed by Atif Khan, who in his speech reportedly admitted that the PTI had been unable to act against the corrupt elements. On the occasion, he offered himself for accountability.

It is said that the speech delivered by Atif Khan turned Iftikhar Mashwani and other PTI lawmakers against him as they had taken offence at his insinuations.

The sources added that the opponents of Atif Khan met PTI chief Imran Khan at his residence in Banigala in a bid to convey their reservations to him. 

The Iftikhar Mashwani-led group is allegedly being supported by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, the sources said.  

“Both the groups separately went to Islamabad to attend the PTI rally to celebrate the disqualification of the prime minister,” the sources added.

Atif Khan is said to be very close to Imran Khan and is also popular among PTI workers in the province, particularly in Mardan.

“Pervez Khattak feels insecure and threatened due to the popularity of Atif Khan. The chief minister is trying to create problems for him to tighten his grip on the party,” the sources said, adding that this turf war would take its toll on the PTI in the next general election.