The Awami National Party (ANP) is holding its provincial election today (Wednesday), and the party’s current provincial president, Senator Afrasiab Khattak, is strongly contesting for a re-election. A total of 540 members of the Provincial Executive Council, including members of national and provincial assemblies and party’s office bearers will cast their vote to elect their party’s provincial chief. The poll is part of a delayed election process to overhaul the party’s leadership at all levels, as the ANP had set October 15 as deadline to complete the process after a six-month extension granted by its Central Executive Committee. The previous deadline was in March this year. ANP Provincial Information Secretary Arbab Tahir said the party had re-nominated both Asfandyar Wali Khan and Afrasiab Khattak for the offices of central and provincial presidents. He said the party’s general secretary would be decided on the eve of ANP’s electoral meeting. He added that majority of central and provincial office-bearers, including the central president had been re-nominated, but they would have to go through the electoral process.
