The ruling ANP suffered a major setback on Sunday when its MPA from its hometown Charssada joined the PPP-S.
Fazal Shakoor made this announcement after meeting PPP-S chief Aftab Sherpao. Although Fazal was yet to announce his schedule for quitting the ANP but in presence of Sherpao he announced joining his party. He complained of indifferent attitude of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Ameer Haider Khan Hoti and remained silent in the assembly and party meetings. ANP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa General Secretary Arbab Tahir said, “Holding of meetings with leaders and stalwarts of other rival political forces by MPAs or office-bearers doesn’t matter.” He recalled that some one month back Fazal had hosted a lunch in honour of former CM Akram Durrani. Tahir made it clear that the party will definitely take action against all those who violate discipline or indulge themselves in changing of loyalties.
Despite his rifts with the party for the last several years, Fazal refused to violate the party policy in the Senate elections. Rich aspirants made attractive offers to Fazal but he rejected it. It is believed that Fazal considers Aimal Asfandyar Wali Khan, son of the ANP chief, a threat to his future. Since coming into power in March 2008, the ANP high command was preparing he ground for Aimal, who was son-in-law of ANP Sindh President Senator Shahi Syed.
Aimal was in contact with party workers from Fazal’s constituency. Many other ANP MPAs were not happy with the party leadership and the PPP-S was making efforts to break them from the Walis.
