Walking away: PML-N leader quits party over apathy

Amanullah Khan says his constituency ignored by party’s leadership.

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) vice president for the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chapter, Amanullah Khan, on Wednesday announced his decision to quit the party along with his supporters in protest against senior leaders’ lack of interest in the province.

Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club, Amanullah Khan said PML-N has been in power for two years, but both the central and provincial leaderships have not bothered to pay attention to the problems faced by people of his constituency. Khan contested the K-P Assembly elections from PK-10, Peshawar on a PML-N ticket, but was defeated by PTI’s Shah Farman.

Khan added the PML-N leadership’s lack of interest has driven party workers and voters of his constituency to force him to leave PML-N. "Party workers of my constituency are pressuring me and have left me with no option but to quit PML-N," he said, adding this is why he is stepping down from the office of K-P vice president.



Khan said he tried his best to inform the party’s leadership about his constituency’s problems but his advice fell on deaf ears. According to him, he could not fulfil promises made to the electorate as a result.

The disgruntled leader said his constituency was not only facing extreme poverty and unemployment, but was also braving precarious law and order. "This constituency deserves immediate attention."

Khan said he has been serving in the PML-N since 1992 and left the party for some time in 1998 before eventually returning to the fold. He said he is likely to join the Awami National Party and had also contacted the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf but got a cold response from the latter.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd, 2015.