April 01, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 23, 1429

PESHAWAR, March 31: Amir Haider Khan Hoti of the Awami National Party emerged on Monday as the only candidate for the post of chief minister of the NWFP and he will be declared elected unopposed on Tuesday.

The ANP had shared power with JUI-F in 1973 and with the PML-N in 1993, but it will be leading a coalition government in the province for the first time.

After Abdul Jabbar Khan, it will be perhaps for the first time that the NWFP government will be run by a direct descendent of the Bacha Khan family.

Bacha Khan, Wali Khan and Asfandyar --– representing three generations – had preferred to sit on opposition benches.

It is also for the first time that the ANP has emerged as one of the mainstream political parties, with some representation in Sindh and Balochistan assemblies as well.

Soon after the provincial assembly started its proceedings on Monday, Speaker Karamatullah Khan Chagarmati welcomed Anwar Saifullah Khan of the PPP in the house and administered the oath of his office to him. Mr Saifullah could not be sworn in earlier because he had gone to perform Umra.

After the oath-taking, the speaker announced the election schedule for the post of chief minister. He said that nomination papers should be filed with the secretary of the assembly by 1pm.

Lawmakers of ANP, PPP and PML-N filed four nomination papers of Amir Khan Hoti. The opposition did not file any nomination.

Talking to journalists later, Mr Hoti said he would first seek a vote of confidence from the house and then make a policy statement.

He said that provincial ministers would be sworn in on April 2. Answering a question, Mr Hoti said that the PML-N was an ally and it would be given representation in the provincial cabinet.

He said the new NWFP government would like to hold talks with local Taliban militants to resolve all problems, adding that the use of force by any side would not resolve the issue.

He said he would try to evolve a consensus on all vital issues in the house as it had been the tradition of Pukhtuns for centuries to resolve their problems through talks and consultations.