QUETTA: The Nat­ional Party (NP) has denied the claim of Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Chair­man Mehmood Khan Achakzai that the NP had assured him of casting vote in his favour in the presidential election and said NP president Dr Malik Baloch did not talk about giving vote to anyone before the party’s decision.

Talking to reporters outside the Parliament House after the presidential election on Saturday, Mr Achakzai had said he was given vote by the people, who were not even members of Imran Khan’s party. “Akhtar Mengal stayed here just to vote for us. Dr Abdul Malik was here till night to vote for us, but after that slipped away,” he added.

A spokesman for the National Party said in a statement issued here on Sunday that the NP had a lot of respect for the PkMAP chairman, but what Mr Achakzai had claimed after the presidential election about Dr Malik’s assurance to him for giving vote in the presidential election, was not only incorrect, but also “regrettable and irresponsbile”.

The spokesman said Dr Baloch had not consulted anyone about voting before party’s decision.

Achakzai’s claim termed regrettable, irresponsible

He said when the leadership of the party was approached by a delegation of the PkMAP, the NP leadership clearly stated its position that the issue of presidential elections was under consideration and whatever decision the party made would be made public through the press.

After extensive consultations on the evening of March 9, a decision of the NP was made and it was made public through the media.

The spokesman said the NP had formally announced its support for the PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari in the presidential election and all members of the assembly had been directed to vote for Mr Zardari in the election.

Dr Baloch and three other MPAs and one MNA Mir Phulain Baloch gave vote to Mr Zardari in the presidential election.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2024