‘Stolen mandate’: ANP paying heavy price for pro-Pukhtun policies, says Babak

Party claims Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was systematically brought into power


Our Correspondent October 31, 2014

SHABQADAR:


Parliamentary leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Sardar Hussain Babak on Friday said his party has paid a heavy price for its pro-Pukhtun policies.


Addressing a convention of ANP workers in Battagram in Shabqadar, Babak said elements who do not want to see the Pukhtun leadership in politics stole the mandate of ANP so that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf could come into power. This is why, he said, the homes and hujras of ANP leaders are being attacked while the months-long dharna of PTI has never been targeted.



Delving into the result of the May 2013 general elections, Babak claimed the PTI offered militants an office in Peshawar in exchange for the latter’s soft stance on the party. He also blamed PTI’s policies for lawmakers receiving extortion chits.

“Instead of supporting the operation launched by the army in North Waziristan, PTI is busy in its dharna,” said Babak, terming the resignations of PTI MNAs a “drama”.

“If they (MNAs) were sincere about their resignations, they would have announced it on the floor of the house like Javed Hashmi did.”

The ANP leader maintained Imran Khan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were afraid of each other’s tactics. However, Babak made it clear he did not foresee midterm elections and that the general polls would be held in 2018.

Babak was flanked by ANP’s central finance secretary Arbab Tahir and former advisers to K-P chief minister Mukhtiar Khan and Syed Masoom Shah who also addressed the convention.

In his address, Shah said ANP established 13 public sector universities in K-P and will continue to render its services if given the mandate again by Pukhtuns. Shah also said ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan will visit the PK-21 constituency of Charsadda on Monday, urging activists to give Asfandyar a warm welcome.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2014.

 

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