This is a significant call, especially coming from an opposition party.
ANP suggests brief delay in polls
Bureau Report
PESHAWAR, Jan 1: Awami National Party president Asfandyar Wali Khan has said that the coming election should be delayed for the minimum possible time after consultation with the political parties in view of the law and order situation in Kurram Agency and the advent of Muharram. The ANP had suspended its election campaign after the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
The party’s chief said in a statement issued here on Tuesday that the Election Commission was facing problems in the violence-hit Kurram Agency and the polls should be postponed for a brief period after consultation with the political parties. He said the ANP was fully prepared to go into the election on Jan 8 but it wanted the political parties and the government to ponder over the situation in the aftermath of Ms Bhutto’s death.He said the government would have to take additional security measures for Muharram and in Kurram Agency, which would create more problems. He alleged that state resources were being used for campaign of the PML-Q’s candidates. He demanded action against the government officials running the PML-Q’s campaign. The government must ensure free, fair and transparent election, he said.
Meanwhile, ANP delegation led by Senator Asfandyar Wali Khan will visit Naudero, to pay condolences to the family of the PPP’s chairperson, Benazir Bhutto, who was murdered on Dec 27. He would be accompanied by party’s central leaders Mohammad Adeel and Zahid Khan provincial president Afrasiab Khattak, general secretary Syed Aqil Shah, ANP’s Sindh president, Shahi Syed and others.
