PESHAWAR: Awami National Party president Asfandyar Wali Khan on Wednesday demanded resignation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and dismissal of the provincial assembly as the controversy over the local government elections continues to gather steam.

“In the presence of present ruling setup in the province, re-elections are not acceptable even if they is conducted under the supervision of the army,” said Asfandyar Wali while speaking at a press conference here.

Earlier, he presided over a meeting of the ANP’s Think Tank, an advisory panel of the party.

Asfandyar said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan himself admitted rigging in local government elections held on May 30 and offered re-elections under the supervision of the army.

“Without the resignation of the present setup, re-elections are not acceptable,” he said, demanding dissolution of the provincial assembly.

The ANP president also demanded repeal of the existing local government act in the province, saying the law was ambiguous.

He demanded that after dissolution of the provincial assembly, the Election Commission of Pakistan first hold elections for the provincial assembly and then local government polls.

Says fresh LG elections unacceptable in presence of current ruling setup

Asfandyar said maintaining law and order and providing secure environment to voters at polling stations was the responsibility of the provincial government.

He said the ECP could not be held responsible for security related issues on the polling day.

During the local government elections, according to the unofficial results, ANP regained electoral position it lost in the 2013 general polls due to humiliating defeat.

Like other political parties, ANP has also adopted tough stance on the alleged rigging in local body elections and demanded fresh polls.

Asfandyar Wali said coalition partners of the ruling PTI had also serious reservations about local government elections and demanded re-elections.

He said PTI’s allies had rejected election results.

The ANP leader said his party was in contact with other political parties and would chalk out future line of action on the matter soon.

He condemned the detention of party central secretary general Mian Iftikhar Hussain in a murder case and said the arrest of a senior politician in a forged case was a shameful act.

“The government had claimed that Mian Iftikhar had been taken in protective custody but ironically, he was handcuffed. “Mian Iftikhar was arrested at 3:30am and that the local police received ‘revelation’ at 5:30am to register FIR against him,” he said.

Asfandyar Wali appreciated the courage of the father of deceased PTI worker saying despite immense pressure from the government, the man refused to nominate Mian Iftikhar in the FIR.

He said the government continued to pressure the bereaved family to change his statement.

The ANP chief said his party workers were not scared of jails and that PTI chairman and provincial chief minister should also be ready for a similar situation as they had never faced such an imbroglio.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2015

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