PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party on Saturday resented the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s politics of confrontation and asked it to play its due democratic role in parliament in the ‘best interest of the people’ to address national issues.

Addressing a news conference following meetings of the party’s working council and cabinet at the Bacha Khan Markaz here during the last three days, ANP provincial president Aimal Wali Khan said the PTI government in the centre was ousted through a successful no-confidence motion in line with the Constitution, so former prime minister Imran Khan should stop blaming it on a foreign conspiracy and should admit that his failure to deliver the goods led to his exit from the Prime Minister’s House.

He said Imran Khan should sit with the leadership of other parties to find ways and means to address the serious issues facing the country.

“We demand of the federal government to take pragmatic steps to control prices of essential goods as well as power cuts to the relief of the common man,” he said.

Aimal Wali says Imran ousted over failure to deliver as prime minister

Accompanied by ANP Senator Haji Hidayatullah Khan, provincial general secretary Sardar Hussain Babak and other office-bearers, Mr Aimal said the federal government had no option but to increase petroleum prices to strengthen economy.

He said he was hopeful that the ruling coalition would take effective measures to steer the country out of financial crisis.

The ANP leader flayed the PTI’s recent march on Islamabad and said agitation against the government was illogical as no one had forced Imran Khan to vacate the Prime Minister’s Office and instead he was removed through a constitutional and democratic process.

He alleged that the PTI leadership was using Pakhtuns and their provincial resources against the federal government in an organised way to serve its political ends.

“The leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Democratic Movement and other members of the ruling coalition in the centre should come up with a plan to address key national issues otherwise I have a plan of corrective measures for them,” he said.

Mr Aimal alleged that the PTI leadership was illegally using the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s resources, including its police and helicopter, and the ANP will raise its voice against it at all available forums.

He said the PTI, which had been ruling KP for nine years, had miserably failed to launch any mega development project for the people’s welfare.

The ANP leader said there were reports of massive corruption in the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit, Malam Jabba skiing resort, Medical Teaching Institutions projects and needed proper investigation for the punishment of the culpable people.

He said the PTI leadership always influenced the National Accountability Bureau and Election Commission of Pakistan to ‘hush up’ cases against it.

Mr Aimal said the federal government should ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the country through necessary amendments to the electoral law.

He also called for the early devolution of powers and proper distribution of resources to the provinces and announcement of the NFC Award in line with the Constitutional provisions.

The ANP leader also said he recently led a party delegation to Russia and convinced the Russian authorities for the free education of Pakistani students in the country as well as exchange of media and businessmen and lawyers delegations.

He said the Russian government was ready to provide Pakistan with wheat, LPG, LNG, fertiliser and oil on reasonable price.

Mr Aimal said Russia was ready to sign agreements with Pakistan for opening a trade route to strengthen economy and address poverty in the region.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2022