The Awami National Party (ANP) received a serious setback on Monday when two of its members elected from Kohat and Peshawar announced dissociation.
According to details, Pir Dilawar Shah, who was elected on ANP ticket in 2008 general elections, has announced to join the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for the next general elections while his brother, Pir Adil Shah, would also join the PPP and contest polls from the PK-39 constituency in Kohat.
Separately, Mian Nisar Gul, who is also an MPA and joined the ANP in 2008, has also announced resignation from the provincial ministry. Gul has declared that he would contest the election independently.
In 2011, Mian Nisar Gul had vacated the ministerial office when he was charged for his involvement in a kidnapping case. Later, after reconciliation with the grieved party, he was re-inducted in the cabinet in 2012.
Another MPA named Amjad Afridi is also reportedly planning to part ways with the ANP. He is the elder brother of federal minister Senator Abbass Afridi, and was elected as an independent candidate in 2008 general elections. Later he joined the ANP and become the housing minister.
“Mian Nisar Gul has definitely changed his party but I cannot say anything about Pir Dilawar Shah and Amjad Afridi,” ANP Provincial General Secretary Arbab Mohammad Tahri said, adding that the party was aware of Gul’s intention and his dissociation would not change anything.