The ANP chief speaks at a news conference in Wali Bagh. PHOTO: PPI
Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan unveiled plans on Saturday to reorganise his party at the grassroots level following its drubbing in the May 11 elections.
The ANP, which ruled Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in coalition with the Pakistan Peoples Party for five years, lost to Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the province.
“Our party performed poorly in the general elections … therefore, we [the ANP leadership] have decided to reorganise,” Asfandyar told a news conference after his return to his home in Wali Bagh, Charsadda, after five years.
Reading from a three-page report of the ANP’s fact-finding committee, Asfandyar said that while ‘conspiracies’ against the ANP had affected its performance in the elections, ‘internal weaknesses’ also cost the party dearly.
“There is a weakness of policy, weakness of governance and weakness of organisation within the ANP,” he said. The report also found a lack of transparency in the party’s recruitment process, he added.
Announcing the reorganisation plans, he said a central election commission has been set up under the supervision of Senator Haji Adeel. A separate commission has been formed for all four provinces, with a fifth committee exclusively for south Punjab. Asfandyar said the reorganisation process would take place over October and November.
‘No plans to destabilise PTI govt’
The ANP chief said that while his party would criticise PTI government if it performed badly in the province, it would never take part in any move to destabilise the provincial government.
He did, however, criticise the PTI government, saying that its ‘apologetic’ policies have allowed militants to operate with impunity on the outskirts of Peshawar and to entrench themselves in Swat and Buner districts.
About the proposed peace talks with the Taliban, Asfandyar said that peace has always been a priority for the ANP which is why it had organised an all-party conference during its tenure. He added that while he personally thought PM Nawaz Sharif should have convened an APC before reaching out to the Taliban in his televised address to the nation.
Asfandyar said the ANP would support army intervention in Karachi but not an ‘army operation’. He added that any operation would be difficult without de-weaponising Karachi first.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2013.
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Thanks to PTI gov these guys are able to sit in Wali Bagh where they could not set a foot even during their own Gov
He reminds me of the grumpy old man in the Disney movie 'UP'.
Asfandyar brought shame on Pashtuns, by running away moments after blast in his hujra. He did not even offer Jinnazah for his valiant bodyguard who offered his life to save Asfandyar. But when you have friends like Afrasiab (Now turned US agent) who needs enemies. The tenure of ANP was remarkable for massive corruption from Hotis, and Bashir Bilour etc. They were asking bribes up front for providing government jobs to people. Hoti´s focus area was Mardan. Go and see it for yourself. Begum Nasim is right when she accuses present ANP leadership of incompetence.
The greatest game for decades…..Using Pashtuns against Pushtuns at all fronts…..by the name war on terror, national security and writ of the government or taliban…….. In Balochistan Pashtun are victims, Afghanistan Pashtuns, KPK Pashtuns, FATA Pashtuns, Swat Pashtun, Karachi Pashtuns….FC Pashtuns….Police Pashtuns…Taliban Pashtuns……World politicians using Pashtuns, agencies using Pashtun, Local politicians using Pashtuns……wake up Pashtuns before no Pashtun to be alive.
He had the gunpoint on his head, how could he come back. The reason being he was part of the govt which did military operations against the barbarians. Now that out of the govt he is no longer an immediate target. The onus is now on PTI to show some guts to stand against them. ANP lost close to 500 workers in the last 5 years. Can any other party replicate such a courage?
Finally back to home town, Back to senses
Dont u find it funny tat asfandyar didnt visit his hometown (btw he lives there ) for the last 5 years after a suicide attack on his home. Who had the govt for the last 5 years in KPK ?? N now who is in govt ?