PESHAWAR: ANP senior vice president Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour has expressed the hope that the verdict of accountability court against Nawaz Sharif will not affect the schedule of upcoming general elections.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, he urged the caretaker government and Election Commission of Pakistan to ensure holding of general elections on time and in a fair, impartial and transparent manner.

He said that government should assure the nation that the decision of accountability court against former premier Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law retired Capt Safdar would not affect the schedule of general elections in the country.

Flanked by candidate for PK-77 and former district nazim Haji Umer Khan Mohmand and other senior ANP activists, Mr Bilour said that timing of the verdict against Nawaz Sharif and his family members was not appropriate. He expressed the hope that the judgment would not influence the upcoming general elections.

Bilour asks govt and ECP to ensure timely, fair elections

Coming down hard on PTI, the ANP leader said that PTI chief Imran Khan had made tall claims during 2013 election campaign about elimination of corruption but he could not prove his capability even in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the last five years and failed to materialise his manifesto.

Mr Bilour alleged that the employees of Peshawar Development Authority and workers of Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar were working against his party. He said that flags and banners of ANP were removed inPeshawar but not action was taken against other parties for violating the code of conduct of ECP.

Mr Bilour said that the previous provincial government failed to bring any change in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that a political party couldn’t get another term in the province so PTI should be mentally prepared to lose the elections.

He said that ANP would regain its lost position and would again form government in the province.

Mr Bilour said that ANP would eliminate poverty and unemployment if it got another chance to form government in the province. He added that ANP would bring the provincial bureaucracy and police force at par withthat of Punjaband give additional incentives to the employees.

The ANP leader alleged that the previous government launched Bus Rapid Transit project for corruption.

He said work on BRT destroyed the entire Peshawar and made life of people miserable.

On the occasion, Qaumi Watan Party youth wing district president Jalat Khan, general secretary Khan Saeed, joint secretary Mohammad Alam and their associates announced to join ANP.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2018