PESHAWAR: The newly-elected central president of Awami National Party, Senator Aimal Wali Khan, has said that he will protect 18th Amendment at all costs as it guarantees rights of Pakhtuns.

Addressing the members of ANP central council at Bacha Khan Markaz here on Sunday soon after his election as president of the party, he said that 18th Amendment was part of Constitution but it was not being implemented rather it was under threat. He said that credit went to Asfandyar Wali Khan, who got approved it, which was base of life for Pakhtuns and others.

He said that living a life of slavery on Pakhtun land was not acceptable to them. “Bacha Khan has taught us that we are no one’s slaves in Pakhtun land. Everyone knows the way Pakhtuns have been subjected to slavery,” he added.

Aimal Wali said that all state institutions had to work within their constitutional jurisdiction to enable the country to move forward.

“Be it defence agencies, judiciary or parliament, whoever violates Constitution will harm Pakistan. For the last seventy years, an institution has neither respected Constitution nor its authority. We know for these people Constitution is a piece of paper. The slogan we have raised in Peshawar, Swabi, Swat and Charsadda during public meetings is the voice of the entire nation. Now defence agencies have to give priority to defence and go to border and barracks,” he said.

Aimal Wali elected president by central council of party

He said that everyone knew about the achievements of Asfandyar Wali Khan. He claimed that Asfandyar Wali Khan materialised the dreams of Bacha Khan, Wali Khan and their companions by naming the province as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which was a big challenge for ANP.

Aimal Wali said that his party’s central council and cabinet would take some important decisions, keeping in view the current situation. “I will make my first visit to Balochistan as central president of the party,” he announced.

Earlier, during intra-party elections, Senator Aimal Wali Khan was elected president unanimously by central council of ANP.

The meeting was held with chairman of election commission Mian Iftikhar Hussain in the chair. Former chief minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti suggested the name of Aimal Wali for the top slot of the party. It was unanimously decided that Asfandyar Wali Khan would be Rahbar-i-Tehreek.

Other office-bearers include central senior vice president Senator Dawood Khan and general secretary Dr Mohammad Saleem Khan. From Islamabad, Jawad Khattak will work as vice president while Iffat Kulsoom Khatun will be vice president of the party. From Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Parvez Khan of Swabi and Dr Noorjahan Khatun were elected vice presidents.

From Balochistan, Faridullah Damar and Salma Kakar were named as vice presidents. Similarly, Syed Attaullah Shah and Advocate Qudsia Shaheen were elected vice presidents from Punjab province. Anwarzeb Khan and Shazia Razak Marwat will be vice presidents from Sindh province.

From Saraiki unit, Mohammad Nadeem Qureshi and Madam Abida Khan will be vice presidents of ANP. Obaidullah Abid will be additional general secretary and Aurangzeb Khan will be deputy general secretary while Javed Kakar will be additional deputy general secretary.

Senator Haji Hidayatullah Khan has been elected central finance secretary while Engineer Ehsanullah will be spokesperson of the party. Sardar Hussain Babak will be foreign affairs secretary while Khadim Hussain will be culture secretary. Hussain Ahmed (Khan Nawab) and Shaughta Malik Khatun will be joint secretaries from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

From Balochistan, Mohammad Anwar Khan and Shahina Kakar Khatun will work as joint secretaries. Bahadur Khan and Hudiba Rafique Khatun will be joint secretaries form Punjab. From Sindh, Hanif Shah Agha and Arooj Ghafoor Khatun will be joint secretaries. Qazi Izhar and Saima Bashir Khatun will be joint secretaries from Islamabad.

From Saraiki unit, Dr Mohammad Akram Khan and Nosheen Khan will work as joint secretaries. Maulana Khanzeb will be central secretary for ulema while Dr Waqar Ahmed will be secretary for teachers’ affairs.

Azeem Khan Bilour and Wagma Bazai have been elected as central secretaries for youth affairs. Saifullah Fazal will be secretary social media while Amarjeet Malhotra will be secretary minority Affairs. Advocate Khushdil Khan has been elected as central secretary for human rights.

Mohammad Farooq Bangash will be labour secretary while Sardar Rashid Khan Nasir will be secretary for students’ affairs. Advocate Sangin Khan has been elected central secretary for lawyers’ affairs. Dr Shaukat Jamal Amirzada will be central secretary for welfare of doctors. Engineer Zard Ali Khan has been elected secretary for engineers’ affairs. Dr Mehrib Moeez Awan will be secretary for rights of transgender persons and Malik Faqir Ali will be central Salar.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2024