NOWSHERA/MARDAN: ANP provincial president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has termed the call of PTI chief Imran Khan for siege of Islamabad against national interest.

“It seems Imran has failed to realise sensitivity of ground realities at this critical time when India and Pakistan are in war-like situation. Khan Sahib has focused his attention on chair of prime minister,” he told a public meeting in Risalpur.

On the occasion, a member of Risalpur Cantonment Board Pir Aslam parted ways with PTI and joined ANP. District president of ANP Malik Juma Khan, former PMA Pervez Ahmad Khan and others were also present on the occasion.

Hoti says KP facing political, financial and administrative crises

Mr Hoti said that Imran Khan ignored Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as he was trying to get support of Punjab. “It is need of the hour to show unity among our ranks against Indian threats but Imran khan is trying to detract people at such a critical time,” he added.

The ANP leader said that tussle between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan was only for chair and not on the basis of national interests. He said that provincial government failed to serve people. He added that the province was facing political, financial and administrative crises.

Mr Hoti said that government officials had become sandwich between Bani Gala and provincial government and could not decide as to whom they should follow. It was third time that chief secretary was transferred on political grounds while secretaries of other department were facing the same situation, he added.

The ANP leader said that provincial government could not continue the on-going development projects and even could not provide salaries to government officials. He alleged that PTI legislators were slinging mud on each other.

Mr Hoti said that cordial relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan were must to uproot terrorism in the region once for all.

About merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the ANP leader said that some elements were creating problems in the process as they did not want to see unity among Pakhtuns. He asked federal government to fulfil its promises regarding China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Addressing another public meeting in Shamozai area of Katlang tehsil in Mardan, Mr Hoti said that sour relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan would affect Pakhtuns living in both sides of Durand Line.

ANP Sindh president Shahi Syed, MPA Gohar Ali Shah Bacha, district nazim Himayatullah Mayar and local leaders of the party attended the meeting.

Mr Hoti said that Pakistan was not enjoying good relations with its neighbouring countries. It was not a good omen, he said, adding that there was lack of trust between Pakistan and Afghanistan that should be restored.

The ANP leader said that Fata should be merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa without any further delay. He alleged that some political parties were playing politics on the issue.

He said that PTI chief Imran Khan was not using political language. It exposed him as an immature political leader, he said. He added a cold war continued between Chief Minister Pervaz Khan Khattak and Bani Gala that caused transfer of three chief secretaries of the province.

“We are not against China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project but we are demanding our due share in it,” said Mr Hoti. He alleged that federal government changed the original route of CPEC.

Addressing the meeting, Shahi Syed asked the party workers to follow discipline and forge unity in their ranks. He said that the followers of Bacha Khan needed training and unity to achieve their goal.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2016