PESHAWAR: Awami Nation Party provincial president Aimal Wali Khan has said his party has called a ‘Qaumi Pakhtun Jirga’ on June 14 to unite people in the province for their rights.

After holding the meeting of provincial office-bearers of ANP, he told a press conference here on Monday that his party would initiate activities to raise voice against inflation and curbs on political activists and media.

Mr Khan, who also interviewed the aspirant candidates from tribal districts for the July 2 provincial assembly elections, said that according to Election Commission of Pakistan, the polls would be held as per the announced schedule.

He said that Senate had yet to pass the bill about increase in number of seats so there was a little confusion but one thing they were clear about was their demand that elections in tribal districts could only be termed transparent if army was kept out of polling stations and only election staff trained and paid for it was allowed to do its job.

“We believe that there is some conspiracy and confusion about July 2 elections. ECP says

the polls will be held,” said Mr Khan.

He said that ANP would be taking to streets to raise voice for freedom of media on June 18. He said that free media was vital for democracy.

He said that ANP would also hold protests and raise its voice for share of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the provincial resources as the provinces were kept deprived of their resources despite devolution.

Mr Khan said that ANP would also raise its voice against silence of NAB in Khyber Pukhyunkhwa and requested it to probe the faulty projects like Bus Rapid Transit. He said that ANP would publish a white paper on such irregularities and ill-planned projects.

The ANP leader said that Billion Tree Tsunami project should also be probed as their MPAs in Bannu found less than 100 trees at a spot, which was contrary to what government claimed.

“I feel responsible as the provincial president of ANP to inquire about rights of people of the province,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2019