The Awami National Party (ANP) has rejected allegations levelled by Begum Naseem Wali Khan against the party leadership, saying that there is no place for her in the party.
“The allegations levelled by Begum Naseem Wali and Azam Khan Hoti – farther of former chief minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti – against the party leadership are baseless,” Mian Iftikhar Hussain said while addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Sunday.
Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Senator Haji Adeel and other party leaders were also present.
Last month, Azam Khan Hoti had claimed that Asfandyar and Afrasiab Khattak had sold out the party for $35 million to the United States. He demanded that the party sack Asfandyar.
Following his allegations, the ANP organising committee expelled him from the party and cancelled his basic membership.
A few days ago, Begum Naseem Wali announced her return in politics and asked the ANP leadership to step down and give chance to honest and sincere people.
On the occasion, Haji Adeel said that both brother and sister were busy in hatching conspiracies against the party. He was of the view that Begum Naseem Wali was politicising the family matters to harm the party.
“We respect Begum Naseem Wali Khan but Asfandyar Wali Khan is our only leader,” Iftikhar said. “Asfandyar Wali Khan is our leader and party is united under his leadership.”
He also said, “There is no place of Begum Naseem in the ANP.”
He said that all the party committees were dissolved and new intra-party elections would be held, Adeel added.
Begum Naseem is a former provincial president of the ANP. She was elected the first woman lawmaker from KP on a general seat in 1977 elections.
