CHARSADDA: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MPA and former provincial minister Sultan Mohammad Khan here on Saturday announced his support to the Awami National Party without formally joining it.

Speaking at a press conference at his residence here, he said that his family members and supporters had formally quit PTI and joined ANP. He said he would extend full support to the ANP candidate in the by-election.

ANP provincial president Aimal Wali Khan, district president Shakeel Bashir Khan, former provincial minister Syed Aqil Shah and other party leaders were present on the occasion.

Mr Sultan said he would tender resignation from the provincial assembly whenever the ANP leadership asked him to do so. He said that many MPAs and important people were soon going to leave the PTI.

“What kind of democracy is this that Imran Khan is contesting by-elections from nine constituencies?” he questioned, adding that Imran Khan had been removed from the government through a democratic and constitutional process, but he did not obey the Constitution or the law.

He said that Imran’s protest against Shehbaz Sharif government was nothing but his ego problem.

Speaking on the occasion, Aimal Wali said that ANP would continue its mission to cleanse the country of the dirt created by PTI chairman Imran Khan. “I say it again that if the country is to survive, we would have to get rid of Imran Khan,” he said.

Aimal Wali said the by-elections were postponed without consulting the political parties.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2022