ANP’s Zahid says anti-Taliban parties were prevented from campaigning in the general elections
The by-poll results have strengthened the claims of left-wing parties that they were not given a level playing field in the May 11 general elections for running their election campaigns, as they have won many seats in the by-elections.
During the general elections, left-wing parties encountered many terrorist attacks that killed many of their supporters. Some of the election candidates were also killed in the attacks, forcing the parties to limit their election campaign.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) dominated the general elections, taking advantage of the absence of the leftist parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Awami National Party (ANP). As a result, the PPP, ANP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lost important seats during the May 11 polls.
However, in the by-elections, which were held in a relatively peaceful atmosphere, the leftist parties made a come back by winning five National Assembly and six provincial assemblies’ seats.
Before the general elections, the Taliban had warned the voters to stay away from the rallies of the PPP, ANP and MQM and also warned to attack party members, said the leaders of these political parties.
The ANP, which was ousted by the PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the general elections, managed to win back the NA-1 in the by-polls, which was previously won by PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
ANP senior leader Senator Zahid Khan, while commenting on the NA-1 victory said, “In the general elections, liberal and anti-Taliban parties were sidelined. We were prevented from holding rallies. We were unable to run the election campaign as the names of our supporters and candidates were placed on the hit-list of the terrorists who launched many attacks on the liberal parties, killing 71 ANP supporters.”
In the by-elections, the PPP won three NA and three provincial assemblies’ seats, the MQM won one NA and two provincial assembly seats from Karachi and the ANP won one NA and one provincial assembly seat.
