ANP calls on govt to probe voting irregularities

Party fears similar outcome in the by-polls if concerns are not timely addressed

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) President of Awami National Party (ANP) Amir Haider Khan Hoti on Sunday said the party demanded parliamentary commission to probe the irregularities in the recently held general elections.

Addressing a news conference, he said the commissions should have representation from all the political parties to discuss the stolen mandate in the general elections in detail. “We fear if the same irregularities are witnessed in by-polls, the results will not be different than that of the general elections,” he added.

Hoti said the government has failed to move forward on the concerns expressed by political parties over the general elections. He added that the ballot boxes were opened in the absence of the polling agents. The ANP leader informed that Prime Minister Imran Khan assured to probe the matter if any irregularities were found.

With regard to the militant threats, he said that ANP was a target of the militants when it was not even in power. “We are still kept in the dark about the investigation of the attack on Haroon Bilour,” he added.

The ANP leader said the government would be responsible if anything happened to Mian Iftikhar Hussain. He added that the government has failed to take actions against those threatening Hussain, which clearly shows its inefficiency.

He said that there were speculations about the introduction of tax in the Malakand Division. He said that ANP with the support of other political parties would resist such a development.

He added that reducing the share of provinces and increasing the federal share in the National Finance Commission Award (NFC) will also face resistance.

Speaking about the construction of dams, he said, “We respect the courts and will always support constructions of new dams.” “Dams must be constructed but the ones which have already become controversial [Kala Bagh] should not be discussed anymore since three provinces have already refused to accept it,” he added.

He said the Chief Justice should also take notice of wrapping up the K-P Ehtisab Commission since ANP leadership wants to know the reason behind its closure.

The ANP leader said that the courts should decide the existing cases under Article 6 of the Constitution before opening the fresh cases under Article 6.

Moreover, the party has called a meeting of the central council members on October 1.

According to the details, the meeting has been called upon the directives issued by the ANP central President Asfandyar Wali Khan and the meeting will be held at Bacha Khan Markaz in the provincial capital.

The meeting will discuss the intra-party elections in detail and the current political scenario besides any other agenda duly approved by the centre, which can be brought under discussion.

A statement issued from the ANP Secretariat stated that all the provincial presidents have been told to ensure that the leadership attended the meeting.