PESHAWAR, Dec 29: The Awami National Party on Monday held Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) responsible for Sunday’s carnage during by-election election in Buner and termed the incident a preplanned conspiracy.
ANP spokesman Arbab Mohammad Zahir Khan Khalil in a press release said his party had already told media that JI activists would sabotage the poll if felt its defeat in the election.
“Jamaat-i-Islami has always tried to keep ANP at distance from the people and sabotage the election process but the people fully supported our party which came into power in the province,” the spokesman said.
He said that JI had nothing to do with the peoples’ welfare rather it only wanted to win the election at all costs. “Only ANP leaders Mian Iftikhar Hussain and Syed Aqil Shah visited the injured people in hospitals but JI people avoided to do so,” he said.
He added that over 8000 more votes had been added to the vote bank of ANP in the National Assembly constituency in Buner district which was live example of the party’s popularity in the district. He said his party believed in Bacha Khan’s philosophy of non-violence and its workers would strictly follow his policies.
He expressed his sympathies with those who were killed and injured in the suicide attack.
By Abdur Rahman Abid adds from Buner: Jamaat-i-Islami provincial chief Sirajul Haq has asked the ruling Awami National Party to step down after its defeat the by-election in Buner.
Addressing a news conference here on Monday, he thanked the local population for reposing confidence in the candidate fielded by Jamaat-i-Islami and said that their votes would pave the way for the betterment of the area.
He also thanked the electoral allies, PPP-S and PML-Q, for their support in the by-poll that ensured victory of Jamaat candidate Advocate Bakht Jehan Khan. Mr Siraj expressed sorrow over the suicide attack in Shalbandi locality that killed 43 and injured 16 during by-election and expressed sympathy with the bereaved families.He condemned the chief minister, ministers for not visiting the mourners and accused the ANP-led government of misusing its power and resources in the election. He termed defeat of ANP candidate a clear indication that masses were not supporting the policies of the government and it must respect the public verdict and resign forthwith.
He termed the ANP government in the province and PPP government in the centre as failure, saying that citizens were showered with bombs and bullets and students were wandering in streets instead of going to schools.