PESHAWAR, April 17: The Awami National Party (ANP) has formally announced that its provincial assembly members would not cast their votes in the upcoming by-election, scheduled for April 19, for the Senate’s vacant seat from the NWFP. Bashir Ahmed Bilour, organizer of the NWFP-chapter of ANP, made a formal announcement to this effect in a press release issued here on Sunday.

“The party high command, after holding discussions on the issue, has decided to abstain from the by-election,” the press release said.

“Party MPAs will not vote for any of the candidates contesting the election because the combined opposition in the NWFP assembly had not been able to field a consensus candidate for the by-election,” Mr Bilour was quoted as saying according to the press release.