“The Pukhtuns act first and think later. This is why the ‘change’ could only come in K-P," says Amir Haider Khan Hoti. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ FILE
Addressing party members at a reception held at the Pearl Continental Hotel, Hoti warned the emerging political force that if it failed to secure a majority, other parties would seek to take control of the legislative assembly.
He also expressed his desire to vacate the PK-23 Mardan seat in favour of the NA-9 seat – the ANP’s sole victory in the National Assembly.
The former chief executive, however, lamented his party was not allowed to contest the polls freely. “It was a dreadful situation. Party leaders and workers were targeted mercilessly. How could we contest elections in such conditions?”
In a bid to underscore the ANP’s fighting spirit and benevolence, Hoti said his party accepted defeat even though it believed the elections were rigged. He added ANP would play its due role in the opposition, claiming had other parties been in ANP’s place, they would have left the field open for the government.
But even though Hoti accepted the mandate, he did not refrain from voicing misgivings. “The Pukhtuns act first and think later. This is why the ‘change’ could only come in K-P. In other provinces, people stand firm with their own parties.”
He maintained that at the present time, Pukhtuns must support their own leadership instead of “doing new experiments.”
Also speaking on the occasion, ANP Provincial President Afrasiab Khattak admitted his party had its faults which needed to be rectified. “Rigging at the hands of the government and other elements in the elections notwithstanding, the ANP also has some faults of its own,” he said, adding the party would fix these shortcomings “at any cost”.
Khattak said ANP had already constituted a committee to investigate these faults along with all those responsible for its dismal performance in the polls. He added the party would never retreat and was waiting for the committee to unveil its report.
Khattak maintained the political landscape was changing and that some people were of the opinion the ANP was sidelined as it had no place in the current setup.
Turning his guns on the winning party, Khattak said, “The PTI’s bubble is much weaker than that of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal’s (MMA) and it too will burst soon.”
He claimed all decisions regarding the province were now being taken in Lahore, adding the PTI had not even held a meeting of its parliamentary committee over the formation of the government.
Khattak said there were internal rifts within the PTI’s ranks and MPA-elects had already started squabbling over ministries. “The day of elections has passed by, but its results will not be very different from the elections of 1971,” said Khattak, referring to the separation of the western and eastern wings of Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2013.
COMMENTS (7)
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sir the people of mardan are not happy from the anp because it is not progressive govt that way anp facing the tuft time so in this regard the anp well revised his manifesto and included the corruption is first agenda of anp then anp will be successes
@Jibran: It is not a SIN to have relationship with US and Afghanistan government. Second, I would be great if you please send all the evidences of ANP corruption to the incumbent government and they must initiate the required prosecution of the people involved in particular of ANP. Failing in doing so, it would be perceived as the biggest corruption and injustice by the new government with people of K-P.
I don't agree Mr. Hoti, pukhtuns have made their choice despite having other choices with their past performances, so they favoured the change. Being brave you can take risks while coward think about risk factors. I do believe if PTI will not produce results then they will meet the same fate. Another important factor that's why change could only come in KPK was the open and free mindset of the people and the people in other provinces are under the strong influence of local lords.
Than accept it the struggle before freedom was misguidance, Act first and think later if it is true the reason of wali khan not to participate in elections after 1990 defeat,He was true because He think later that the struggle of His father and party was wrong. This he realize later
It is a lesson for the other parties in democracy and how to behave in victory and defeat. Despite the hijacking of elections by TTP for its favorite parties ANP and PPP both accepted the mandate of people. It is a shame that both ANP and PPP could not remain election partners even after they were coalition partners. There is still little time left for these two progressive parties to make seat adjustment and give a better performance during several by-elections. If they don't do that, then they have no learned anything for the election results.
I have developed much respect for the Pukhtuns, they have shown that they don't have any foolish loyalty to any particular political party. Unlike the populace in Punjab and Sindh, if K-P voted for a party and then that party betrays K-P and does nothing for its people. That party should not expect Pukhtuns to blindly and foolishly vote for them again.
No Mr. Hoti, it seems Pukhtuns think before they vote.