Firing a salvo: Azam Hoti accuses Asfandyar, Khattak of ‘selling out’ Pukhtuns

Says the leaders struck a secret deal of $35m with the US to ignore bloodshed in the province.

PESHAWAR: Senator Azam Khan Hoti on Monday claimed Asfandyar Wali Khan and Afrasiab Khattak struck a $35 million deal with America to ignore the bloodshed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

Hoti was recently expelled from the party for violating party discipline by leveling allegations against the party’s senior leadership.

Addressing a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club, Senator Hoti said he does not have any proof to substantiate his claim, but added deals of this nature are not usually documented.



After emerging successful in the 2008 general elections in K-P, ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan and Afrasiab Khattak were invited to America. “No one knew their whereabouts or the tasks they were performing there, but I know that they were bargaining on Pukhtuns,” alleged Hoti.

Hoti maintained their visit was arranged by Haji Naseemur Rehman, a prominent industrialist and former federal minister from Mardan. He said an American national of Pakistani origin visited his residence in Mardan and asked to meet the party’s senior leadership,

“I arranged his meeting with Afzal Khan Lala, though Afzal Khan refused to come out of his home as the situation in Swat was extremely violent in those days. But the man was in no hurry and took a huge risk by going to meet him. He also held meetings with Begum Naseem Wali Khan, Afzal Khan Lala and Asfandyar,” Hoti said.

Before leaving for America, the man told Hoti K-P would suffer from continuous bloodshed in the next five years. Hoti added Begum Naseem Wali Khan refused to give him any information about her meeting with the Pakistani American national.

“A deal of $35 million has been struck to ignore the bloodshed of Pukhtuns during ANP’s five-year rule in the province,” alleged Hoti.

He said his son, Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, chief minister in the last government, was not aware of such a deal and was told by the party leadership to stay away from his (Hoti’s) influence.

Hoti also claimed Asfandyar Wali has purchased large properties in Dubai, Malaysia and other countries of the world by “selling out” Pukhtuns. “Asfandyar is the destroyer of the party and the people,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2013.