Asfandyar Wali elected as ANP president; says Khan, Qadri will be responsible if democracy derails; vows not to support undemocratic forces
Asfandyar Wali Khan said Sunday that for Khan and others, Chief Election Commissioner is “Fakhru bhai” while for Awami National Party (ANP) it is Hakeemullah Mehsood and thus it is the ANP’s right to stage protests. He was speaking at ANP Central Council meeting after being elected unopposed as ANP central president.
The ANP president said despite reservations, his party accepted the 2013 election results as democratic traditions demand that the people’s mandate be respected.
Ghulam Ahmad Bilour was elected senior vice president, Mian Iftikhar Hussain as general secretary and Zahid Khan as secretary information.
Addressing members of the party’s central council, ANP president said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreeek (PAT) Chairman Tahirul Qadri would be held responsible if there was any damage to democracy through marches and sit-ins.
He said that in the past, political decisions were taken through in the Parliament but in “Naya Pakistan” decisions are made on the roads.
Stating that ANP would never side with undemocratic forces, Asfandyar said his party does not support the “unconstitutional demand” for a national or technocrats’ government.
“It is unconstitutional to force the prime minister to resign by placing a gun on his head,” said Asfandyar, adding that the constitution spells a way out to remove a PM.
He criticised Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, saying that he left the dead bodies of 18 children unattended and went to Islamabad to “dance”. He said during the ANP’s government in KP, internally displaced persons were dealt with respect and honour but now they are left at the mercy of fate.
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