CHARSADDA: Senate Chairman Mohammad Sadiq Sanjrani and federal defence minister Pervez Khattak visited the Wali Bagh here on Sunday and met senior leadership of the Awami National Party seeking its support for the election of the chairman of the Upper House of Parliament.

The delegation met ANP senior vice-president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, general secretary Main Iftikhar Hussain and the party’s provincial president Aimal Wali Khan.

ANP central president Asfandyar Wali could not meet the delegation because of health reasons, according to a statement.

ANP leader from Balochistan Eng Zamarak Khan Achakzai, who is also minister for agriculture and cooperatives, accompanied Mr Sanjrani.

ANP Senator-elect from Balochistan Arbab Omer Farooq Kasi was also present.

The party has secured one seat each from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Hidayatullah Khan, the ANP Senator-elect from KP, was not present at the meeting as he is in Kabul.

ANP is simultaneously a component of the opposition’s Pakistan Democratic Movement and also partner of Balochistan Awami Party in the Balochistan government.

The statement said Mr Sanjrani formally requested the ANP to support his candidature for the election of the chairman Senate.

Mr Sanjrani is the joint candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and BAP for the Senate chairman slot.

On the occasion, Ameer Haider Hoti said as the ANP was part of PDM it would take decisions after consultation with its allies. He said resolving political issues through political means was in the country’s interests. He said ANP would play its role to maintain sanctity of the Upper House of Parliament.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2021