Feb 8 polls: Sherpao scoffs at lack of transparency mantra

CHARSADDA: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Thursday said the one questioning the transparency of the upcoming general elections slated for February 8 should recall the massive rigging committed in the 2018 polls.

Addressing a gathering in Shabqadar tehsil in Charsadda district, he said the 2018 general election was massively rigged in favour of a certain political party, but its leader did not raise any objection to it. “The one, who is now languishing in jail, did not talk about the preferential treatment, which his party enjoyed, and was brought to power through manipulation,” he maintained.

Aftab Sherpao said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lost its electoral symbol as the party failed to conduct the intra-party elections in accordance with its constitution, holding the PTI founding chairman responsible for the situation his party was facing.

The claims to rope in independent candidates for the formation of the next government amounted to insulting such contenders and this would undermine the democratic process, he added.

“The people would point the finger at the entire electoral process and it would lose its credibility,” he remarked.

The veteran politician advised the people to elect sincere candidates, who had a proven track record of serving the people irrespective of their political leaning. “The people should not fall for catchy slogans,” he said, the ones promising the moon were nowhere to be seen after getting elected.

Aftab Sherpao said that the people were running from pillar to post due to rising inflation coupled with inflated gas and electricity bills. He said that steps should be taken to redress the grievances of the people and they should be provided relief in the face of backbreaking inflation. He promised that the QWP, if voted to power, would spare no effort to provide relief to the people. Shedding light on the election manifesto of his party, he said that reforms would be introduced in all the sectors, including health, education and agriculture. Aftab Sherpao maintained that the mainstream political parties were least bothered to highlight the issues facing the residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Whichever party came to power in KP would have to work for the uplift of this province as it has lagged far behind, he went on to add.