While the upcoming general elections have gripped the attention of the entire nation, key leader Asfandyar Wali Khan has been conspicuously missing from the scene.
Asfandyar Wali’s Awami National Party (ANP) ruled the province for five years after its stunning victory in the 2008 elections. However, the party’s policy against Taliban militancy has had a price. Dozens of its mid-level and senior politicians have been killed in militant attacks.
Asfandyar himself survived a suicide attack in 2008 at his Hujra in his hometown of Charsadda. After the attack he was not seen in Charsadda until 2012 when he returned to address a public rally. However, militants struck once again, killing and maiming many ANP supporters, though the party chief remained unhurt.
Asfandyar will be contesting the 2013 elections for National Assembly constituency NA-7 (Charsadda-I) – the stronghold of his party. He did not turn up at the office of returning officer to submit his nomination papers. Moreover, his son Aimal Wali Khan and other kinsmen are also missing from Charsadda.
Asfandyar will not be leading his party’s election campaign. Instead the ANP has formed three committees to supervise the election campaign for one National Assembly constituency NA-7, and three provincial assembly constituencies – PK-17, PK-18 and PK-19.
“Our party has decided that Asfandyar Wali will not lead the election campaign due to threats to his life,” Qasim Muhammadzai, ANP’s campaign in charge in Charsadda. “Our leader is dearer to us,” he added.
Asfandyar Wali will face among others Sikandar Sherpao, son of the Qaumi Wattan Party (QWP) chief Aftab Sherpao, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Arshad Khan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl’s Maulana Gauhar Shah.
Asfandyar’s rivals have an edge. They are openly campaigning, holding public rallies and corner meetings in the constituency. They are even hitting out at Asfandyar for his long absence from the constituency.