‘Begum Nasim’s grandson primed to enter politics as heir apparent’

Insiders claim Lawangeen Wali Khan is anticipated to be the foil for Aimal Khan in intra-party elections.

CHARSADDA:

In what seems another move to make inroads, Begum Nasim Wali Khan looks ready to fast-track her grandson Lawangeen Wali Khan into politics. The development comes after the Awami National Party (ANP) leadership dismissed her call for the reformation of the party.

Nasim’s spokesperson Mansoor Durrani has meanwhile rejected the idea and said Lawangeen Wali has no interest in entering politics, whereas Nasim will be leading the movement against Asfandyar Wali Khan.

Addressing the issue of billboards and posters of Lawangeen flooding Charsadda, the spokesperson maintained it was “the party workers’ admiration for him which resulted in Lawangeen appearing at press conferences, and his pictures emerging on ANP billboards.”

Journalists and political workers, however, fail to agree with the spokesman and anticipate an election battle between Lawangeen, and his step-cousin and Asfandyar Wali’s son, Aimal Wali Khan.

Where is ANP heading?

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) nationalists are observing all emerging developments in the ANP very carefully.

The party which ruled the province from 2008-2013 faced an embarrassing defeat in K-P at the hands of political infants Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The defeat forced Asfandyar Wali’s hand to return home to Wali Bagh, after a five-year hiatus, in order to regroup. His return helped his party – ANP won one provincial assembly seat and one national assembly seat in the by-elections.

Gul Nawaz, a nationalist student leader from Mohmand Agency, is increasingly concerned over the power struggle between Nasim and Asfandyar. When Gul Nawaz was asked who he thinks has the more valid stance, the student leader preferred to remain silent, preferring not to be involved in the heavy-weights’ tussle.

After ANP took a beating in the May 11 elections, Asfandyar’s step-mother emerged from her self-imposed political exile.

Begum Nasim, known by her admirers as Mor Bibi, issued statements, claiming Wali Khan had banned Afrasiyab Khattak from ANP, but Asfandyar chose to make him the party’s provincial president against his father’s will.

Azam Khan Hoti, Nasim’s brother, also blamed the party leadership for ANP’s dismal performance in the elections.

Her criticism led to the formation of a fact-finding committee, headed by Basher Matta. After the committee issued its report, it was decided that the party’s hierarchy be dissolved and new intra-party elections be held after a general membership drive.

Nasim’s actions have had a ripple effect, forcing the party’s current leadership to hold a consultative meeting in Wali Bagh on Thursday. There are indications that the ANP has realised Nasim as a potential threat to the party.

However, ANP K-P Organising Committee Head Basher Matta, who has once in the past parted ways with the party, believes Nasim will not serve as a nuisance in the future. Talking to The Express Tribune, he said by rejecting party membership and announcing her own grand jirga, Nasim will only get as far as making a small corner for herself within the ANP, surrounded by her supporters.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1^st, 2013.