KHAR: Awami National Party provincial president Aimal Wali Khan here on Monday alleged that government planned to rig the elections for provincial assembly in the tribal districts.

Addressing a public meeting in connection with his party candidate Gul Afzal Khan’s campaign, he called for free, fair and transparent elections.

He said that any sort of rigging in the polls would not be tolerated.

“I request the government and ECP to ensure free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections in the merged districts and avoid any sort of fraud in this historical election,” he said.

A large number of party workers and local people attended the meeting to show their support for Gul Afzal Khan, the nominee of ANP for PK-100. ANP senior workers from different areas including provincial general secretary of party Sardar Hussain Babak also attended the public meeting.

Aimal Wali urges ECP to ensure free, fair polls

Aimal Wali alleged that the PTI government had planned to rig the elections in the merged tribal districts after tarnishing of the party’s image in the region. However, he said that his party would not allow the government to rig the elections.

The ANP leader alleged that government machinery was being used for the benefit of PTI candidates in the tribal districts, especially in Bajaur. He claimed that the PTI nominees would face a shameful defeat in the elections in all tribal districts.

Aimal Wali said that elections were imperative for the socio-economic development of the merged districts. He said that the elections would open a new avenue of progress and prosperity for the people of merged areas.

He said that elections of provincial assembly seats in the tribal districts were essential for the empowerment of the local people. After getting representation in the provincial assembly, he said, every issue of the tribal districts would be addressed. He added that parliament was the best forum for discussing any issue.

The ANP leader said that people of tribal districts had been deprived of basic rights and they had faced numerous problems and hurdles owing to the colonial governance system.

However, he said that future of tribal people was bright and they would see a lot of changes and improvement in their lives.

Aimal Wali lashed out at the government for not taking interest in implementation of Fata reforms package.

Speaking on the occasion, Sardar Hussain Babak asked the people to play their role in socio-economic development of the region by supporting the candidates of ANP in the elections.

He said that ANP would continue its struggle to get basic rights and facilities for the people of tribal districts.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2019