GHALANAI: Awami National Party central president Asfandyar Wali Khan on Tuesday said the ruling PTI was targeting the opposition parties in the name of accountability.

Addressing a public meeting in Ambar area of Pandiali tehsil here, the ANP leader said his party would sweep the coming provincial assembly elections in tribal districts.

“Pakhtuns are one nation. We don’t want any differences or division among them. We want the abolition of all British laws and resumption of development in tribal districts in the shape of the development of education, health and other sectors,” he said.

The ANP president said tribesmen had the right to own resources like minerals but outsiders were coming in to occupy marble and precious stones.

“We want control and authority on our resources. We won’t give them to anyone else,” he said.

The ANP president asked the residents to vote for his party’s nominees declaring them the real leaders of Pakhtuns.

He claimed that the land for Mohmand dam was given away at a very low rate, which was injustice to the local tribes.

Mr Asfandyar criticised local parliamentarians for not raising voice for the rights of the residents.

He favoured across-the-board accountability and asked the government to ensure that everyone is treated fairly.

“If the PTI wants real accountability, then it should start this from PM Imran Khan’s sister over benami assets,” he said.

ANP leaders Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Hemayatullah Mayar and Qasim Ali Khan, party candidate for PK-103 Nisar Mohmand, PK-104 candidate Hazrat Khan Mohmand, and scores of workers and tribesmen attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2019