PESHAWAR: Awami National Party has announced that it would stage demonstrations from Feb 20 against election ‘rigging’ and alleged change of results.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, ANP provincial president Aimal Wali Khan said that the protest campaign would start from Swabi district.

He said that a peaceful protest would be held in Swabi to be addressed by provincial and central leaders.

After Swabi, he said a protest would be held in Charsadda on Feb 23.

He warned the government of serious consequences if it created any hurdle during the protests.

The ANP provincial chief said his party had already predicted that the election would be massively rigged. He said Feb 8 election proved to be worse rigged than the 2018 polls.

Aimal Wali said complainants were approaching the courts for seeking justice, but the courts were also being ‘managed’.

“Decisions from courts are being sent to the Election Commission and the victory of the desired people is being announced there,” he alleged.

Meanwhile, former ANP senior vice-president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti in a separate statement warned that the administrative and financial crises would intensify in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He, however, said government formation in the centre, Punjab and Sindh provinces would be smooth.

“My resignation from the party office was based on principles,” he said, and urged the party’s central president Asfandyar Wali Khan to approve it.

“I am not disappointed and will start the political journey with new enthusiasm,” Mr Hoti said.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2024