March 08, 2008	Saturday	Safar 29, 1429

PESHAWAR, March 7: Five central and provincial leaders of the Awami National Party have ceased to hold their party posts, as required under amendments made to the party constitution last year.

NWFP Chief Minister-designate Amir Haider Hoti has ceased to be the party’s deputy general secretary, so has provincial gener al secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussa-in after being named in the government-in-waiting.

Provincial sports minister-designate Syed Aqil Shah will not hold the post of party information secretary. Similarly, Wajid Ali Khan, MPA-elect from Swat, has ceased to be the district president.

Ayub Ashari, who was nominated as minister for science and technology in the provincial cabinet, has surrendered his post of president of the party’s Swat chapter.

Central ANP information secretary Zahid Khan confirmed that last year on the occasion of the party election an amendment to the party’s constitution had been made, making it obligatory upon office-holders to quit party posts after becoming part of the government.

The amendment had been made in view of the fact that ministers remained busy in government affairs and the party suffered at the grassroots level.