Mardan mayor vows to protect Aimal Wali

MARDAN: Awami National Party leader and Mardan Mayor Himayatullah Mayar on Monday said that party workers would ensure the security of the party President Aimal Wali Khan.

In a video message shared on social media, Mayar urged ANP workers to gather at the district office armed with weapons, from where they would proceed to Wali Bagh in Charsadda. “We will ensure the protection of our party’s president, Aimal Wali Khan,” he declared.

Mayar said that the state had a contract with its citizens to protect their lives and property. However, he criticized the government, saying, “In this state, neither freedom of expression is allowed, nor are people’s lives and property protected.”

He added that the Pakhtuns were capable of defending themselves if the state failed to fulfill its responsibilities.Meanwhile, ANP Mardan district president Imran Mandori said that no directives had been received from the provincial or central leadership to provide security to party president.

In a video message, Mandori stated, “We are bound by party discipline. Neither the provincial nor the central leadership has issued any instructions in this regard. Whenever such directions are received, the district chapter will make an announcement accordingly.”

His remarks came amid internal differences within the party following Himayatullah Mayar’s earlier call for workers to gather at the district office. Mandori’s clarification indicated that the district leadership would act only on formal party directives.Later, Himayatullah Mayar released another video message, clarifying that his earlier statement had been made in his personal capacity as a party worker.