PESHAWAR: A little known person here has launched the Aam Aadmi Party, the name earlier given to the anti-corruption party founded by Arvind Kejriwal in India and now in power in Delhi region.
Not much is known about Malik Arsalan, the founder-chairman of the Pakistani version of Aam Aadmi Party. It seems he was trying to organize his party before deciding to hold a press conference in Peshawar a few days ago to bring it into the limelight.
Malik Arsalan claims that he had started organising the party units in all districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He introduced the party’s vice-chairman Mohammad Yousaf Akhtar and its Punjab chapter head Malik Javed Awan. None of them is a known figure. Lacking any person of stature, it would be hard for Malik Arsalan to attract public support in the crowded field of Pakistani politics.
In contrast, Arvind Kejriwal had campaigned long and hard against corruption in India before forming his Aam Aadmi Party (Common Man’s Party). It achieved success in the first polls for the Delhi Legislative Assembly in 2013 by winning 28 out of 70 seats. Kejriwal became the chief minister of a minority government but resigned later when he was unable to push through his anti-corruption agenda due to lack of majority in the assembly. However, in the subsequent 2014 elections for Delhi Legislative Assembly, his party won a landslide victory by bagging 67 out of 70 seats and vanquishing the BJP. Kejriwal was again elected the chief minister of Delhi.
Malik Arsalan has no such background or achievement and his Aam Aadmi Party has yet to become known or attract support.