PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party has urged the judiciary and Election Commission of Pakistan to play role for the early holding of the local body elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to strengthen democracy and enable political parties to serve the people at grassroots level.

Talking to reporters during a visit to the party’s election offices in cantonment area here on Monday, ANP provincial president Aimal Wali Khan said the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf was not sure about its success in the local body polls, its government was delaying the announcement of the election schedule.

He said under the current uncertain situation, it was the duty of the judiciary and ECP to play their due roles effectively for the early holding of the local body elections.

The ANP leader said the ECP had announced its preparations for the election but even then, the federal government was holding it responsible for the delay in polls.

He said the government wanted to make certain amendments to the local government law to serve own ends and therefore, it was using delaying tactics for the purpose.

Mr Aimal said the PTI had been ruling the province for eight years but it had yet to fulfil promised made to the people.

He said the government lacked the acumen to focus on the resolution of the people’s key issues.

He said the frequent protests by doctors and other health workers confirmed that the government didn’t know how to run the affairs of the health sector.

The ANP leader also resented the rising prices of essential commodities and medicines, an increase in the fee of educational institutions, and the growing rate of unemployment in the country.

He said the PTI had promised before coming to power that its government would control corruption, but the promise had yet to be fulfilled.

“The ruling party is unable to take action against its own ministers over corruption,” he said.

Mr Aimal claimed that the ANP’s popularity was growing and it would form the government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa if the election was held impartially.

He asked the party workers to step up efforts for the success of its candidates in the cantonment board elections.

Meanwhile, the ANP has convened a meeting of its central cabinet on Sept 14 and that of the central executive council on Sept 15 in Islamabad to discuss the prevailing situation in the region.

The meetings will be presided over by ANP central senior vice-president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti and attended by the party’s provincial presidents and general secretaries.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2021