ANP dismisses graft charges against leaders

Former CM says party being victimised; questions role of EC

PESHAWAR:

Awami National Party Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa President Amir Haider Khan Hoti has said the party has strong reservations over the role of the Ehtesab Commission and will consult counsels to challenge it in court.

Baseless rumours

Hoti stressed that talk about ANP leaders being arrested on corruption charges was nothing more than hearsay.

He was addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Sunday. The ANP leader said his party’s leaders and workers are the target of a vilification campaign. Other ANP leaders present on the occasion included K-P General Secretary Sardar Hussain Babak, Sitara Ayaz and Haroon Bilour. A large number of party workers were also in attendance.



“We believe in accountability and are ready for investigation if it is according to the law,” said Hoti. He asked the provincial government to produce solid proof before the public instead of conducting a smear campaign.

The former CM, who is also a member of the National Assembly, said state institutions should not be used for political rivalry. He added they will stand by any step to make the system more transparent.

Unlisted

“An impression is being created that all party leaders would be behind bars in a few days and that senior members are trying to escape the country with their families.”  He clarified there is no ‘list’ of ANP leaders being prepared, adding none of their names have been added to the Exit Control List. He said that as provincial president of the party, he would expose the public to this reality and that the accusations against ANP leaders are all baseless.

“We will take legal action against all those who level baseless allegations against party leaders,” said Hoti. He added that there have been cases against leaders of other political parties, but none of them were subjected to such negative propaganda. The ANP leader said this is a method to create a nuisance for his party.

He claimed that even provincial ministers are also boasting that dozens of ANP leaders are going to be arrested in a few days. Talking about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Hoti asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to immediately convene a meeting of an oversight committee to examine the progress on the project.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2015.