SWAT: The leaders of Awami National Party (ANP) here on Sunday asked Election Commission of Pakistan and other government departments to avoid providing unauthorised assistance to a single party, otherwise all political activists would take to streets.

       They were addressing a party meeting in Matta. A large number of ANP activists and local leaders attended the meeting. ANP central deputy general secretary and candidate for NA-4 retired Brigadier Dr Mohammad Saleem Khan, district president and PK-2 candidate Ayoub Khan Asharey, Abdul Jabbar Khan, PK-10 candidate Mohammad Zahir Shah Khan, Qasim Khan, Mohammad Naeem Khan and Abdul Jalal Khan addressed the meeting.

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       They said that election campaign had already started, but due to silence of election commissioner and other relevant departments, only one political party led by Parvez Khattak was being supported.

       “The developmental projects in the province are carried out by the leaders of king’s party (PTI-Parliamentarians), which is completely illegal. Government protocols including police escorts and administrative support are extended to the party leaders,” they alleged. They added that the election commissioner kept mum over the matter.

       They said that the ‘king’s party’ and its supporters actively interfered in matters of other parties. “The king’s party supporters try to stop those, who want to join our party. But we warn them now that if they try to stop anyone from joining our party, we will take practical steps against them,” they said. They added that the ANP workers would not be alone, but the entire party would stand with them.

       The speakers said that legally there was a ban on transfer and posting, but to favour the king’s party, postings and transfers were carried out.

       “Now we warn all the concerned people that if the undue favour and transfer and posting were not stopped, ANP would take to streets against them instead of running an election campaign,” they said.

       They appealed to ECP and other government departments to ensure peaceful and fair elections and refrain from giving undue favour to one party.

       Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2024