SWABI: Internal rifts in the Awami National Party in its hitherto stronghold have left the party in disarray, thus hugely benefiting the rival Tarakai family.

When contacted, a prominent leader said: `On one hand we face strong Tarakai family in the Razaar tehsil, the ANP`s stronghold till 2013 elections, while we have serious internal differences on the other.` The leader predicted that this strife inside the party would largely benefit the Tarakai family.

The party`s plan to make Swabi a stronghold once again would remain an elusive dream, he added.

The stubborn approach has destroyed the internal unity in our party, Bakht Sher Aseer, another leader, said. It is learnt that the protesting leaders did not attend even a single meeting of the party during its chief Aimal Wali Khan`s visit to the district recently.

`To not attend the party meetings to welcome the chief was even against the spirit and culture of Pakhtun hospitality,` said Mr Amanullah, the ANP`s district president, adding internal cleansing of the party was underway to make Swabi a stronghold once again.

Meanwhile, party insiders said notices had been issued to seven leaders who would be expelled from the party soon.

They said that more notices would be issued to some other leaders.

The party`s former and existing leaders told Dawn that the internal differences in the party had weakened it to the extent that it won`t be able to regain its lost glory in the district.

-Correspondent