ANP to stay away from elections within parliament

CHARSADDA: Awami National Party (ANP) President Asfandyar Wali Khan said on Thursday his party would not take part in any elections within the parliament.

In a statement issued here, he said the party members would not participate in the election process in any assembly or Senate. He said the ANP had always stood for democracy, civilian supremacy and a strengthened parliament.

“The use of money in the recent general elections was unprecedented. The party is not in favour of giving votes to anyone in the elections in the provincial assemblies and Senate,” he said Asfandyar said the political parties which had won multiple seats in the general elections had contacted the ANP and offered them positions as well but his party was not interested in the politics of seats and power. He said the ANP had a principled stand on the general elections and believed that the mandate had been stolen which should be handed to the real representatives of the people. Asfandyar said more decisions would be taken with consultations about the party’s role in the parliament.