PESHAWAR, Feb 1: The Awami National Party (ANP) has rejected the allegations levelled by Khawaja Mohammad Khan Hoti and has asked him to quit his National Assembly seat.

“The allegations against the ANP by the Federal Minister, Khawaja Hoti, is a ‘pack of lies, entirely baseless and ridiculous’,” said Arbab Mohammad Tahir Khan Khalil, spokesperson of the ruling Awami National Party in a press statement issued from the party’s headquarters, Bacha Khan Markaz, here on Sunday.

In response to Khawaja Hoti’s resignation from the federal ministry and allegations against the Awami National Party during a press conference in Islamabad, he said that Mr Hoti had never expressed his reservations in party meetings, in which he frequently participated.

During a special committee meeting held under party’s president Asfandyar Wali Khan only last month, the spokesperson said, Mr Hoti didn’t utter even a single word about what he had said today (Sunday).

ANP is a democratic force, and all its decisions are made through consensus among the workers and party leaders and positive criticism is accepted with an open-mind, Mohammad Tahir said.

He added that Mr Hoti had violated party’s constitution and would soon be issued a show cause notice.

The ANP spokesperson said that he should also have resigned from the seat of National Assembly as he had won it as a nominee of the Awami National Party in the past elections.

He should have sent his resignation from assembly’s slot to the ANP president, Mr Khalil remarked.

It was classic example of disloyalty with the electorates in Mardan, who had mandated him from the ANP’s platform, he added.

Despite hardships and severe problems, the ANP-led coalition government was trying its level best to get out of the prevalent situation and establish peace to pave way for development and prosperity in the province.

He said that they were ready to hold dialogue with anyone who wanted peace and willing to say no to militancy in the larger interest of the people.