Formal start: Amm Admi Party launched in K-P

Leader says party registered with ECP on January 1, 2014

PESHAWAR: Amm Admi Party (AAP) was formally launched in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Saturday.

The party was registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan on January 1, 2014.

“The real structure of the party will be made later through intra-party elections,” AAP K-P Chairman Adil Mehmood told The Express Tribune. “The news conference was an introductory event to inform people about the party and its manifesto.”

Initial stages

Mehmood added the party started its activities in K-P seven months ago.

“We have even protested on several issues,” he added.

The provincial chairman added the party has been formally inaugurated now and in the first phase they are appointing chairpersons from every district of the province. They will also appoint an organisational structure in various districts.

“So far we have appointed chairpersons in Charsadda, Peshawar, Shangla, Buner and several other districts,” Mehmood said.

He added AAP General Secretary Javed Hilal Zaidi met Reham Khan in London and invited her to join the party.

“Zaidi told us that Reham responded in the affirmative and said she will give an answer after contemplating the matter,” he said.

Mehmood added none of the members will be given top positions till the intra-party elections are held.

The K-P chairman also spoke about AAP’s participation in the local government elections, saying they could not take part in the polls as they were not ready then.

“However, we will contest the 2018 elections,” he added.

Central level

While addressing journalists at the news conference, party central chairman, Arsalanul Mulk, who belongs to Gujranwala, Punjab, said they were given ‘brick’ as their election symbol when they had registered the party with ECP in 2014. “Our flag is white with a green crescent and a star in the middle,” he said.

Mulk added they have a 54-point agenda that includes the elimination of hereditary politics, restoration of self-esteem of the common man, omission of word impunity from the country through legislation and getting rid of corruption. “Our party also condemns privatisation of the public departments and institutes,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22^nd, 2015.