PTI’s ‘Naya Pakistan’ slogan has left Pakhtuns in the lurch
PESHAWAR: Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan said Monday Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan’s concept of ‘Naya (new) Pakistan’ had left the crises-plagued Pakhtuns in the lurch at a time they needed to be pulled out of trying period.
“In ‘Purana (old) Pakistan’, the slain Bashir Bilour would dash to the site of terrorist attacks to boost morale of the security forces and the people but today that’s not happening. You know why? Because now we have a ‘Naya Pakistan’ which has no space for such bravery”, Asfandyar sneered while addressing an election gathering held at the Nishtar Hall to muster support for the party stalwart Ghulam Ahmad Bilour who is the joint candidate of the ANP, Pakistan People’s Party and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl for the NA-1 in the by-election slated for August 22.
“In ‘Purana Pakistan, the ministers used to attend funerals of policemen and common men while in ‘Naya Pakistan’ the ministers even don’t attendJanaza of their slain members of the assembly”, he said taking to task the PTI public representatives.
He said the speaker of the assembly of ‘Purana Pakistan’ used to be the custodian of the entire House, while in ‘Naya Pakistan’ the speaker represents the ruling party. He said referring to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser who still holds the portfolio of PTI’s provincial chapter president. The nationalist leader also flayed Chief Minister Pervez Khattak for holding the party office along with the government slot.
He said captain (Imran Khan) used to criticise President Asif Ali Zardari for keeping dual offices, but now his own party’s provincial president and central general secretary held both party and government offices. “During the ANP government the Bannu jailbreak incident happened. It was the captain who had stated then that the ANP had lost the right to rule the province. Now what will he (Imran Khan) say after the Dera Ismail Khan jailbreak? Was he right then or now? Have they lost the right to govern?” he asked sarcastically.
Amid charged atmosphere in the hall, the ANP chief came down hard on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan which he addressed as “Kaptan (captain)”.
Asfandyar said, the captain in his speeches talked about other issues except law and order as he didn’t have the courage to comment on the issue. He said after every terror incident the use of the word ‘condemn’ is avoided and instead ‘sorrow’ is used.
He said that the people of Peshawar were indebted to slain Bashir Ahmad Bilour and they should pay back for his matchless sacrifices by voting in favour of Ghulam Ahmad Bilour in the by-elections.
“Bashir Bilour sacrificed his life for people of this city and I request you to pay him respect by voting for Haji Bilour,” said the sweat-soaked Asfandyar Wali.
Terming the alliance of ANP, PPP and JUI-F formidable, Asfandyar said the tri-party alliance would achieve victory in the by-elections.
Regarding the Imran Khan’s complaints of rigging in general elections he said, “He (Imran Khan) should either accept results of all the constituencies or should reject it. It is strange that where he won election, he termed it fair and where he lost he alleged that it was rigged.”
ANP stalwart and candidate of tri-party alliance Ghulam Ahmad Bilour in his speech said that ANP in its five years term achieved many milestones including renaming of the province, provincial autonomy, net hydel profit and buried the Kalabagh Dam project forever.
However, he lamented, people didn’t remember the achievements of the party and were duped by the mere slogans of PTI in the May 11 elections.
Haji Bilour said being democrats they wished that the federal and provincial government complete tenure, however they would continue to make constructive criticism and remind them of the pledges they made to the electorate.
He also urged Taliban to stop killing of Pukhtuns as even by killing all Pukhtuns they would not be able to achieve their goals.
Ghulam Bilour warned the administration to refrain from interfering with the by-elections and vowed to react if any one from the administration was found supporting the candidate of the ruling party.
Earlier, Zulfiqar Afghani of PPP, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Qari Abdur Rauf of JUI-F also spoke on the occasion. A large number of ANP leaders including Senators Haji Muhammad Adeel, Afrasiab Khattak, Abdul Nabi Bangash, Ilyas Bilour, MPA Sardar Hussain Babak and others were present on the occasion.
The party activists of ANP, PPP and JUI-F attended the gathering in large number. The flags of all the three parties were fluttering in and outside the hall.
Huge banners of Ghulam Ahamd Bilour, candidate of tri-party alliance, were put on display in and outside the jam-packed Nishtar Hall. Strict security measures were taken for the gathering and the Jail Road was closed for all sorts of vehicular traffic. The closure of road caused severe traffic jam inside the city. ANP chief was accorded warm welcome by the participants. Amid humidity in the hall the ANP activists intermittently chanted slogans even during the speech of Asfandyar Wali Khan.