Former Federal Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
Former federal minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour on Thursday called on the election commission to provide security to ANP leaders receiving death threats in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Addressing reporters at the press club, he said the K-P’s caretaker government has provided very basic security to leaders of the Awami National Party (ANP), and said these ordinary arrangements are not enough to avoid potential attacks.
According to Bilour, it is unfair that former military dictator Pervez Musharraf was provided with adequate security by the caretaker government upon his arrival in Pakistan, whereas democratic leaders are left at the mercy of God. Responding to a question about the ban on political campaigns ahead of the general elections, he said ANP leaders were only holding corner meetings with their workers. He demanded that ECP lift the ban.
Furthermore, Bilour accused the electronic media of receiving millions of rupees from political parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the Muttahida Quami Movement, to broadcast their advertisements and leader interviews. Such activities influence the electoral process and are tantamount to pre-poll rigging, he said.
Additionally, he said, mosques should not be used for political purposes, and urged the ECP to disqualify the parties that are holding public meetings inside these houses of worship.
In his concluding remarks, he urged the caretaker government to utilise all resources to conduct peaceful, free and fair elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2013.
COMMENTS (6)
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Yes, I think Mr. Bilour is right. They do need security especially ANP leaders and all others! He needs proper security as he has already lost his only son and brother! :(
Their stand on militancy was only verbal. They did not do any favor to the people of KPK, if you take the constitution of ANP and read it, you will understand why they did so. Furthermore, actions speak louder than words, what have they done to reduce militancy? except for giving statements on the media? We did not see any progress in the last five years so what would they do if elected again? If you take a look at the bureaucracy of KPK, you will notice that only the family members of KPK have been hired and promoted during the last five years. He should not complain about the security as he, and his fellow leaders are getting enough security personnel from the Govt. which they will enjoy for the rest of their lives. It is also the same for MMA govt as their top leaders still have police guards with official vehicles on their property.
Now if Govt keeps on giving them more n more security we would not have anyone to protect the citizens, but who cares? as long as they are happy. WAKE UP MY FRIENDS.
A guy who put a bounty on someone -obviously using religious fever to further his political career - turns around and complains about using mosque's for political purposes. The term hypocrite comes to mind.
Why complaining that "Democratic leaders are left at the mercy of God". Are you not a believer?
His demands should be addressed as he already had lost his brother and several other members of ANP. The only party who stood against Millitants and never changed their stance
Good point about keeping political campaigning out of mosques. Political activities in mosques should be banned permanently. The imams should be barred from asking worshipers to vote for certain groups in sermons. These are places of worship not political offices.