Minister’s talk: ANP says poll delay unacceptable

Mian Iftikhar Hussain says anti-democratic forces wanted to delay elections.

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Saturday said that the Awami National Party (ANP) would not accept any delay in general elections.

Addressing the oath taking ceremony of Swat Press Club here, he said that anti-democratic forces wanted to delay elections on the pretext of the security situation in the country. This is not a valid reason as elections were held in Afghanistan and Iraq despite civil war there, he added. Hussain said the ANP government took all parties into confidence over important national issues.

Terming the reconciliatory policy of ANP as one of its major successes, he rejected the impression that his party thought of negotiations with terrorists towards the end of its tenure.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2013.