PESHAWAR: Awami National Party has rejected the results of Feb 8 general elections and demanded that all constituencies, where the candidates of the party are runners up, should be examined.

Addressing a press conference at Bacha Khan Markaz here on Sunday, ANP provincial president Aimal Wali Khan said that the results of elections were clear from day one as announcements were being made as to who would be the prime minister.

He said that the candidates, who were declared successful, were unable to raise voice for the rights of Pakhtunkhwa. He said that no one would be allowed to roll back 18th Amendment or compromise on rights of Pakhtuns.

The ANP leader claimed that key leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-i-insaf, who were considered to candidates for the slot of chief minister, were also defeated to set up a puppet government in the province on the pattern of Balochistan. He said that those claiming to have won the elections were unable to fulfil their national obligations by raising voice for provincial rights.

Aimal Wali terms ‘cooperation’ with establishment his mistake

He said that the process of election management was started when internet was suspended that caused serious problems to all the people. “We will continue to raise voice against the rigging. Mohsin Dawar was shot injured as he was speaking against rigging,” he added.

He said that many people won their seats by spending millions of rupees. He said that unfair in the election process could be judged from the fact that an Afghan national became member of provincial assembly. “The establishment did not even think that Afghan national won from Hayatabad and became a member of assembly,” he claimed. He said that Form 45 of an MNA in Peshawar was tampered to increase his votes.

Aimal Wali said that all institutions in the country including judiciary and Election Commission of Pakistan had been paralysed. The entire responsibility rested with the establishment for what happened to Pakistan from day one, he added.

He said that the people, who were raising the slogans of Pakistan Zindabad, were actually eating up the country’s resources. He said that his party supported establishment till 2024 against terrorism and for restoration of peace in Pakhtunkhwa.

“It is our mistake and misunderstanding that the establishment will have any good thoughts for Pakhtuns. It will not work anymore. I have turned the page of politics of last 20 years. I will play my constitutional and democratic role from today, whether anyone likes it or not,” said the ANP leader.

He said that they should not be forced to work against the state. He said that one should not be under the illusion that 18th Amendment would be rolled back by bringing ‘dumb’ to parliament.

The ANP leader said that his party did not need to be in parliament for serving the Pakhtun nation. He said soon a movement would emerge. He demanded that all constituencies where ANP ranked second, should be examined in presence of media.

“If our demands are not accepted, we will be on the streets very soon,” he threatened and said that his party’s reorganisation process would start as soon as possible. He said that institutions should work in their constitutional framework instead of violating the law of the land.

Senior ANP leaders, poll candidates and office-bearers including Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Haji Zahid Khan, Haji Hidayatullah Khan and Samar Haroon Bilour were also present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2024