Back to the roots: ‘Winning assembly seats was a secondary concern’

ANP leader Afzal Khan Lala claims ignoring party ideology resulted in election defeat.

MATTA: For the Awami National Party (ANP), the pursuit for assembly seats in the elections was a secondary concern, according to veteran nationalist leader and party senior Afzal Khan Lala.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Lala said the ANP was a movement: an organised and well-managed institution since its inception. It had its own ideological sphere, related to organising Pukhtuns on one platform as one entity, he explained.

“The pursuit of assembly seats in elections was always a secondary concern,” maintained Lala. “ANP is the name of a movement. It is the continuation of a non-violent struggle by the Pukhtuns which was initially aimed against the British. It is a social service initiated by the great Bacha Khan, and the party has its own rich history which spans over a century.”



Lala claims ANP failed in the recent elections because it deviated from its ideology and did not give importance to its workers. “Bacha Khan gave high importance to party workers. It must be kept in mind any party which forgets this value, declines,” he said.

“Today, workers of the ANP are disappointed with their own party,” lamented Lala. “Several other flaws have also developed in the party’s structure. Its’ ideals and aims no longer reflect the party’s objectives and ideology – this is what caused its defeat.”

The ANP is now on the same footing as other parties which have disconnected from their ideology and changed their priorities, pointed out the outspoken ANP leader. According to Lala, some of the major flaws inherent in Pukhuns include a lack of real leadership and a force which could unify them.

“So we do not have a leader of our own – this is the reason we blindly accept whoever comes forward and starts driving us in a direction without knowledge of our destination,” said the disappointed Lala.

Referring to militancy in Swat valley, he pointed out the same thing had happened with the ANP in the past. “A stranger came and led us towards his own hidden goals, misleading us by using religion.”

Lala added it was important to learn from mistakes such as these to ensure they were not repeated in the future.

After the shocking defeat suffered by the ANP on Election Day, Lala stressed the party leadership needs to wake up and review its policies. “They have to give proper importance to party workers and should reform their priorities,” he reiterated.

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