PESHAWAR, May 21: Awami National Party on Wednesday claimed that there was some evidence of involvement of foreign forces in a conspiracy to keep it out of power and get pro-militant parties elected on May 11.

The claim was made during the first post-election meeting of the ANP, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet here at the Bacha Khan Markaz.

Senator Afrasiab Khattak, who chaired the meeting, said 31 terrorist attacks were carried out against ANP election candidates and rallies from March 30 to May 11, claiming life of 62 activists.

He said despite widespread reports of rigging and violence, his party accepted election results as part of its principle to let democracy progress in the country.

The ANP leader said election staff and security people also showed partiality against the ANP candidates in majority of the provincial constituencies.

He appreciated the ‘bravery, courage and spirit with which the ANP men and women fought terrorism.’

Mr Khattak said ANP had maintained the government’s writ in the province during the five-year rule by imperiling the life of own leaders and workers.

He said ANP would never leave the field open to the opponents.

“The party has gained strength under the dynamic leadership of Asfandyar Wali Khan. We will take disciplinary action against all those working against the party’s programme,” he said.

The ANP leader said his party had sacrificed 800 activists since 2008 for the protection of the people in the province.

“We are the only party that implemented its election manifesto. Our government had to its credit great work, including the renaming of the province as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and autonomy for the province,” he said.

Mr Khattak said formation of ANP youth wing was underway and a convention in this respect would take place.

He said conspiracies to harm ANP had been thwarted in the past and the leaders and workers would continue doing so.

“ANP will play the role of opposition in assemblies effectively,” he said.

He said a meeting of the party’s working committee would be held on May 27 at the Bacha Khan Markaz in the provincial capital.

The meeting was attended by ANP leaders Arbab Tahir Khan Khalil, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Malik Ghulam Mustafa, Bashir Khan Matta, Haroon Bilour and others.

It formed a committee under former chief minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti to supervise matters relating to by-elections and tasked him with ensuring that the party field strong candidates.

According to Mr Khattak, a committee formed by the party’s central command to look into the organisational and election-related matters will present its report in two months.

The ANP, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet also decided that the party would actively participate in the local body elections. It issued instructions to the local chapters of the party to prepare themselves for the purpose.