File photo of Begum Nasim Wali. PHOTO: SAMEER RAZZAQ
Disillusioned by the Awami National Party, veteran politician Begum Nasim Wali Khan on Saturday announced that she would launch a new party to struggle for the rights of Pakhtuns.
“The failed policies of the ANP have compelled me to carve out a new party,” she told a news conference in Peshawar. “After consulting likeminded senior [ANP] members, I have decided to launch a new party at a ceremony to commemorate the deaths of our leaders – Bacha Khan and Khan Abdul Wali Khan.”
She said the date of the ceremony would be announced after consultations with ‘disgruntled’ ANP workers. According to Irshad Tandar, an ANP leader sympathetic to Begum Wali’s cause, it would most likely be held on Jan 27.
Although she had not settled on a name for her party, Begum Wali said it would be named after Bacha Khan and Abdul Wali Khan. She added that torch would be the election symbol of the new party.
Inviting ‘likeminded’ ANP members to her new party, Begum Wali said: “There will be no place for corrupt leaders in my party.” She hit out at the ANP leadership, saying its policies had brought the party to the verge of collapse.
“ANP’s tenure was dominated by corruption and nepotism, compounding the sense of alienation among the Pakhtuns,” she said. “Their failure to restore peace [in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa] combined with its policies has caused much devastation on Pakhtun soil.”
Singling out her stepson, ANP leader Asfandyar Wali Khan, for criticism, Begum Wali accused him of striking a $35 million deal with the US in exchange for ‘the blood of Pakhtuns’. She also accused Asfandyar of receiving Rs120 million from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement to stay silent over the killing of ANP workers in Karachi and ruled out any compromise with him.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2014.
COMMENTS (12)
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funny how indian trolls are posting comments of breaking away from pakistan. ur dream will reamin a dream.these pakhtuns are going to free indian occupied kashmir from india soon.
Bacha Khan and Abdul Wali Khan, what exactly these gentlemen has done for the betterment of Pukhtuns, I am from Mardan and if I recall correctly Bacha Khan opted to be buried in foreign country than his home town of Charsada. More over have they built a hospital, college, school or even orphanage for the people of K-P with their own money. Bacha Khan was awarded millions by India for his work but did he ever done any thing for the Pukhtuns with that money. We Pukhtuns should not fall for these emotional slogans and look at them what has they done for Pukhtuns except looting them and give empty slogans. I do salute Wali Khan's brother who was an educationist and served the people of K-P through education but the rest of family amassed wealth by what ever means they could. Another person who has served the Pukhtuns the most was Abdul Qayyum Khan who built Peshawar University and colleges all over K-P and it was him who realized early on that Pukhtun will prosper through education and rightly so. By the way he was a practicing lawyer and did not even own his own house but was living with his daughter till his death but compare him with rest of Pukhtun leaders today, how much corruption they have done in their tenures and that include all of them. And yes, Begum is upset because she did not get her share in the loot and was completely ignored by her step son and family, she had had enough during her husband's rule.
@ major Iqbal
Pakhtoons always fought for Pakistan and they love their country. It's ppl like u who creates division among Pakistani nation.
I only wish that she started an inclusive and secular party that transcends all ethnic, linguistic and religious lines. Pakistan desperate needs a political party like that right now.
Begum Wali accused ANP leader Asfandyar Wali of striking a $35 million deal with the US in exchange for ‘the blood of Pakhtuns’. She also accused Asfandyar of receiving Rs120 million from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement to stay silent over the killing of ANP workers in Karachi.
People talking about "break away from Pakistan" are not true Pakistanis themselves. If they want everyone to break away, and leave "their country", they should know that if everyone leaves, they'll be the ones left with NOTHING.
Honestly, I'm tired of the tyrannical rule in Karachi.
@SK:
Then you must break away from Pakistan.
Pakhtuns are a proud race & must take control of their lands and destiny in their own hands.
God bless KPK; These failed leaders have miserably failed and could not deliver through out their life accordingly rejected by the people. Her husband was a man of principles he became inactive in national politics after his defeat by the hand of unknown JUI figure ( Maulana Hassan Jan became popular only when he defeated Wali Khan). She is not capable of wining a UC seat and is going to launch a party; what a joke. Rather she should launch a social club for gossip of her like minded people. If she launches a party it will not be more than a gossip club whose gossips will be covered by the media as MIRCHI MASSALA of political reporting.
A Peshawary
This is a bitter fact, but ANP does not represent Baacha Khan Baba's vision anymore, it has been hijacked by political clowns & pigmies who run the party for their own selfish interests. It breaks our heart but it is inevitable that a new party is created that would take Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan's mission forward and Nasim Babay is the best leader on the scene to do it. it is admirable what she aims to achieve at her age. A true iron lady
A bold decision at a difficult time. Hope Nasim Wali Khan can lead those who join her party to the long forgotten philosophical underpinning of ANP purported by Bacha Khan of non- violent political struggle