Shifting blame: ANP’s Swat wing condemns Hoti’s statements

Says Azam Hoti was the only party leader who was held accountable by the NAB.

MINGORA: Awami National Party’s (ANP) Swat wing condemned allegations made against their leader Asfandyar Wali Khan and said the ANP is the only party in the district that has raised its voice for the rights of Pukhtuns on every platform.

While speaking at a press conference at the Swat Press Club on Sunday, former ANP MPA Sher Shah Khan said, “The party has not only raised a voice, but also fought and extended sacrifices that can never be ignored.” He lamented over the lack of loyalty of some party workers who ‘try to defame the party based on personal grudges.’



Referring to a recent press conference held by former Senator Azam Khan Hoti, he said, “In every age, people have tried to defame the ANP, but their conspiracies have always failed.”

Khan said Hoti had baselessly blamed the party leadership by politicising internal matters. When Asfandyar had nominated Hoti to the Senate, he (Hoti) would not get tired of praising him, the former MPA said.

“Why was he silent at the time, and why has he raised the issue now? Azam Hoti was the only party leader who was held accountable by the National Accountability Bureau,” he said. “We highly condemn Azam Hoti’s allegations and assure full support to the present leadership.”



Last month, the former senator alleged that the party’s leadership sold Pukhtun blood to the US during their rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Hoti claimed Asfandyar Wali Khan and Afrasiab Khattak took approximately $35 million from the United States as part of a secret agreement to ignore the bloodshed in the province.

Responding to a question regarding peace talks with the Taliban and the killing of Tehreek-e-Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, Khan said: “We always support every effort taken towards peace in the country and will completely assist both the federal and provincial governments in this matter. However, it is ironic that the federal government’s higher officials are also condemning the killing.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th,2013.