ISLAMABAD, Feb 1: Federal Minister for Narcotics Control and ANP leader Nawabzada Muhammad Khan Hoti has resigned from the cabinet, citing his opposition to “opportunist elements in the party” and the military operation in the NWFP.

“I have resigned to force these elements out of the party,” the ANP leader said at a press conference, adding that the ongoing bloodshed in the province should be stopped forthwith.

Although the minister did not name the elements he called opportunists, his friends said Mr Hoti had NWFP Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti and his father Azam Khan Hoti in mind when he spoke about “black sheep using the ANP for their personal gains at the cost of Pakhtuns”.

He said he would remain in the ANP because the party did not belong to elements who were using it for their personal interests. These people were destroying the party and the Pakhtuns.

Mr Hoti said that ANP leader Asfandyar Wali was helpless, otherwise he would have removed these elements. He said he had conveyed his grievances to the party chief.

He complained that he and some other ANP leaders were not being consulted on important matters. Besides, his constituency was being ignored in terms of development works and there was no cooperation from the federal government.

Sources claimed that the chief minister and his father Azam Hoti were trying to sideline the former minister.