PESHAWAR: Newly-elected Awami National Party president in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Wednesday resented Israeli repression against Palestinians and called for an end to it and the illegal occupation of Muslims’ territory.

“Our leader Bacha Khan always raised the voice for peace and tolerance, and therefore, we [ANP] urge the world’s superpowers to help end the war on Palestinian soil, withdraw Israeli forces from there, and Palestinians win the right to self-determination,” Mr Hussain told the party’s provincial council members, who elected new office-bearers at Bacha Khan here on Wednesday.

He said he believed that World War III had begun after the recent Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy complex in Damascus, Syria.

“If serious efforts are not made to control the war on Palestinian soil, the situation will worsen globally,” he warned.

ANP elects him as its KP president, Aqil Shah senior vice-president

The ANP leader said his party was committed to following Bacha Khan’s policy of non-violence, peace, and tolerance and would continue working for people’s welfare.

He said the results of Feb 8 general elections were beyond the expectations of both leadership and workers, but they would stay in the field and compete with rivals with renewed vigour.

ANP central senior vice-president Amir Haider Khan Hoti and Senator Aimal Wali Khan, who were also in attendance, urged leaders and workers to join hands to strengthen the party.

Earlier, the ANP’s provincial council elected Mr Hussain, the central general secretary, as the provincial president, former provincial minister Syed Aqil Shah as the senior vice president, and Hussain Shah Khan Yousafzai as the general secretary.

Mr Hussain has served as the provincial and central president of the ANP’s Student Wing, Pakhtun Students Federation.

The ANP said in a statement that Shahi Khan Sherani, Qasim Ali Khan, Salahuddin Khan and Irum Fatima would be the provincial vice presidents, while Rehmat Ali Khan would act as the additional general secretary and Mutwakkil Khan as the deputy general secretary.

It announced that Hamid Khan Tofan would be the joint secretary-I, Ayaz Shoaib Khan joint secretary-II, Matiullah Marwat joint secretary-III and Shaheen Zameer joint secretary (women), while Arsalan Khan Nazim would act as the provincial spokesperson for it.

Haroon Khan will be the finance secretary, and Tariq Afghan and Sana Gulzar the provincial secretaries (youth affairs), according to it.

The ANP said Akbar Hoti would be the provincial social media coordinator and Gulshan Yusuf the secretary (minority affairs).

The names of the new provincial cabinet were approved by the participants, including the ANP’s office-bearers and members from across the province.

Noted among them were senior leader Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, central senior vice-president Amir Haider Khan Hoti and Senator Aimal Wali.

The ANP said its central council would meet on May 5 to form the central cabinet. The council members from across the country will attend the meeting.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2024