Ruling Muslim Conference in deep waters

By Tariq Naqash

Already reeling from the loss of many leaders and workers after the launch of PML-N in AJK, the ruling Muslim Conference suffered another blow on Saturday when its senior vice president announced to have formed a ‘forward group’ in the party.

Speaking at a press conference along with several MC leaders in the lakeside city of Mirpur, Capt (retired) Sarfraz Khan said he had been compelled to take this step after the “sale” of party tickets for the two AJK Council seats by the party leadership.

Mr Khan, also a former MLA from Chaksawari, had applied for the MC ticket for the AJK Council election but instead the party granted its mandate to Saghir Chughtai and Muhammad Khan.

The MC is in a position to clinch two out of four vacant seats of AJK Council in elections scheduled for February 22.

Mr Khan claimed that his name was final for the party ticket but it was dropped after the party leadership “received millions of rupees in illegal gratification from the affluent duo.”

“The ideology of the Muslim Conference has literally been buried. Party president Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan is equally blameworthy. But we will not remain silent on this worst ever corruption,” he said.

He said he and his colleagues would tour AJK and work out their future course of action in consultation with party workers and friends.

“We will not quit Muslim Conference but fight these corrupt people. But in the meanwhile, we will not attend any official or party function,” he declared.

He called upon the AJK Supreme Court chief justice to take stock of alleged sale of AJK Council seats and bring the culprits to book.

This correspondent contacted at least three senior MC office bearers for their comments on Mr Khan’s allegations but all of them politely declined to speak about the issue.