ANP leader Asfandyar Wali while addressing a press conference in Islamabad. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD: With just one National Assembly and five Provincial Assembly seats, Awami National Party (ANP) leader Asfandyar Wali announced at a press conference that his party would sit in the opposition in the National and K-P Provincial Assembly.
Commenting on the shocking election results, Wali accept the ANP's loss saying, “Our mandate was hijacked by terrorist forces who were attacking our rallies during the election campaign”.
He saluted his workers for “participating in the elections despite terrorist attacks.”
Earlier a paper bearing an agreement barring women from voting in Dir surfaced, containing signatures of members of various political forces, including ANP’s Abdul Wahid.
“I don’t know any Abdul Wahid,” claimed Wali.
“If Abdul Wahid does exist and this is true then I order my party workers to cancel his party membership immediately,” said Wali.
He also advised the political parties to accept each other’s mandate.
COMMENTS (17)
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@Raham Dil: I never insinuated that it did. I implied that people need to get off their high-pedestals and see for themselves what's really going on. In other words, people need to feel empathy. Resigning at the time would have seemed like defeat against the militants and they valiantly stood their ground against, arguably the worst kind of militancy present anywhere in recent history. They paid with their blood and continue to fight them; I don't know about you but that kind of bravery inspires me and my brethren in the Army to continue in our fight against this scourge. And like I said, I wish the PTI all the best but if things begin to go south I wouldn't be surprised and neither should anyone else if they start doing the same thing the ANP did. Btw, I voted for PTI.
@CaptainJanjua: In such circumstances when the ANP were not able to perform they should have resigned. This would have given them the scope to operate effectively and win in the next elections. This has nothing to do as regards comparison with PML-N or PPP, none of which should be defended. Whatever the last mentioned Parties did or did not do would have nothing to do with ANP's performance in KP. That ANP did not muster enough votes in KP has nothing to do with how the PML-N and the PPP performed.
Wow...Holier-than-thou syndrome much? How was the ANP to govern, when the moment they entered govt they were faced with arguably the worst kind of militancy anywhere in the world? Something which the MMA and Fazlur Rehman were directly at fault for. They had no say in affairs regarding FATA, FRs and most of the settled areas. With no investment, and lots of fighting, how do you suppose they create jobs or schools? A great number of them couldn't even utilize their development funds. All they could do was embezzle. I know its not the right thing and I don't condone it, but at least I don't act like I could have done any better, considering the circumstances. What would the many internet warriors, who know how to pass judgement have done. Was Zardari or is Nawaz any less corrupt. PML-N had their fill in Punjab but people were happy because they initiated many projects and schemes. But since Punjab wasn't going through the same problems as KPK or Balochistan, it'd be unfair to compare the two. I'm not from KPK but I can sure as heck sympathize with what they were going through. I only hope the PTIs strategy works and they can pull it off. Remember the ANP started out this promisingly also!
Rigging is commonplace. It should not be condoned. But overall, give or take a few seats the results would not have been substantially different. MQM did deliver on development. PPP did some good work in Sindh, especially the Benazir Income Support Program. As for reasons, why ANP lost, a good analysis is given in the comments of Tru Lies. ANP would have to add several attractive incentives to its program to become attractive again or else it would lose further ground and become anachronistic whereas it would as such also help PTI to become more of the wave of the future.
@longislander: Despite other shortcomings, but MQM did some good development work in Karachi and PPP has a strong feudal base but still it did perform better than ANP. ANP should focus on how and where it performed poorly as also on the differences among the leadership, which did not help the Pary. Those who won, not all seats were won purely on the basis of rigging. Even without rigging, substantially the results would have been approximately the same. My point is, no party, including the ANP should find scapegoats to explain away its failures. Merely appeal to Pakhtun nationalism nor trumpeting secularism is going to be sufficiently attractive for people burdened with problems of bread, butter, unemployment and load shedding!!!
@khair khaw. and MQM and PPP delivered. Right? Can sombody please explain what Shahbaz Sharif did in Punjab? Why did they get all the seats. Super Rigging. I think somebody will disclose this rigging episode after 10 years just like asghar khan case.
As if they have won 40 NA seats and want to emerge as the largest opposition
Imran Khan should learn some Sportsman Spirit from ANP.
MQM and PPP were also targetted but ANP lost mostly because it could not deliver.
"“Our mandate was hijacked by terrorist forces who were attacking our rallies during the election campaign”." As if your performance had nothing to do with the results. That you will sit in the "opposition" is stating the unnecesary.
Oh no! I wonder why did they choose to that that ... lol
And good riddance. The people of KP deserve much better and expected much better from party of Bacha Khan. Unfortunately, BK's grandson is simply not cut out to be a party leader. Him and the family cliques that control ANP, like Hotis, Bilours, Khattaks have destroyed the party for their personal gain and let down an already disillusioned electorate. Note that these families are related to each other through marriage.
I am glad that people of KP kicked ANP out of office. Get out and stay out.
ANP has lost its mandate just because of his poorest preference and lack of credibility. In last five years they have proved their inability of good governance, corruption, just focus on self-created conflicts and the bogus war on terror; while they have totally ignored many basic developmental issues. Most of their development works were just limited to their constituencies only. Previously they had claimed but did not serve their mandate. A huge recruitment was done on political bases, ANP works and had highly violated merit and the rule of justice. Many funds were either adjusted among themselves or devoted to their own constituencies. Based on the overall performance in the last 5 years in the KP province the ANP had very poor performance except changing the province name which is appreciable. They have lost their mandate because of their own faults. In reality they have lost the real vision of Khan Abdul Ghafar Khan; hence they can’t serve anymore.
As if he had any other choice? Who would want to ruin their reputation and that too specially for a single seat in the national assembly when they completely destroyed the railway along with other institutions they were incharge of.
Did we get it right.....All of ANP, the entire ANP, and nothing but WHOLE of ANP with its one seat in NA will sit in the opposition? WOW
LOL
It will be very lonely......