The Awami National Party (ANP), which has been targeted by Taliban during its current election campaign, is unwilling to boycott the May 11 polls come what may while the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday seconded ANP’s demand for fool-proof security measures for political candidates.
“We have decided not to give up our elections campaign… those who have been targeting our meetings are enemies of humanity and democracy. They want us to give up our campaign. But we will not,” ANP’s Senator Zahid Khan said while talking to Pakistan Today.
He said an important meeting to decide future strategy will be held in Islamabad on Wednesday, presided by ANP chief Asfand Yar Wali Khan.
Owing to its anti-militant policies, ANP has constantly been a target of Taliban-led terrorism, which has escalated in recent weeks killing dozens of its workers and leaders in attacks on elections rallies in Khyber Paktunkhwa (KP) and Karachi.
Weeks ago, a militant in a video had warned people to stay away from rallies held by ANP, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM). On Wednesday, ANP member Farooq Khan’s residence was targeted in a bomb attack in Charsadda but fortunately no causality was reported.
Three days ago, ANP local leader Mukarram Shah lost his life after his car was blown up in Manglawar, Swat and MPA Adnan Wazir was injured when a remote-controlled bomb exploded near his vehicle in the Wali Noor area of Bannu.
However, on Tuesday, in a deadly attack in Peshawar targeting an ANP rally, at least 16 people were killed and over 50 were injured.
The main target of the bombing was ANP leader Ghulam Bilour and his nephew Haroon Bilour. Fortunately, both of them survived. Following the attack, the ANP chief held ECP and the provincial government responsible for the attack on his party, saying security had been withdrawn from his party members.
In response to the ANP chief’s statement, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (r) Fakruddin G Ebrahim on Wednesday wrote a letter to Wali Khan clarifying the security matter.
The CEC said the ECP had not ordered for withdrawal of security from ANP leaders. The election watchdog fully supports the demand of full security measures for all political candidates, he wrote. “I’m writing to express my sincere condolence to workers of your party who lost their lives in yesterday’s terrorist attack. I have no doubt that such barbaric attacks are designed to challenge the very foundation of our great nation. I salute all political workers who continue to stand steadfast against each attack on Pakistan’s nascent democracy. ECP has clarified with vehemence that it has not called for withdrawal of security for your party leadership. In fact, we have reiterated our support of the demand of full security measures for all political candidates,” read the letter by the CEC.
Senator Zahid Khan welcomed Ebrahim’s letter. He said had the political candidates been provided with security earlier, the attacks could have been prevented, however, he hailed ECP’s decision of supporting his party’s demand.
Meanwhile, the CEC also wrote letters to MQM over recent loss of life the party suffered in Hyderabad. He also wrote to Sardar Sanuallah Khan Zehri of PML-N over loss of his family members, who became victims of a terrorist attack on Tuesday in Balochistan.
