Haider Hoti opposes delay in elections

MARDAN: Awami National Party (ANP) vice-president Amir Haider Hoti on Tuesday opposed Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s demand to postpone the general elections for the time being.

“The elections have already been delayed. Further delay will multiply the problems for the country,” he said while addressing a public meeting at the residence of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) local leader and ex-union council nazim Iqtidar Khan.

Iqtidar Khan along with his family and friends announced to quit the PTI and join the ANP.

Haider Hoti who is contesting election on NA-22 Mardan- 1 and PK-58 said shots were fired at the vehicle of Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Later, talking to the media, he demanded postponement of the election. He said he respected the Maulana but the elections which were slated for February 8 had already been delayed.

The ANP leader said this election was supposed to be held earlier, but it was not. Later, February 8 was fixed as the date after the Supreme Court played its role.

Haider Hoti said the people of Pakistan had the right to elect their representatives and form the government in the four provinces and the centre through votes, adding delay would not reduce Pakistan’s problems but will instead increase them.