ANP leader claims Pervez Khattak, Haider Hoti in collusion

NOWSHERA: A senior politician and close associate of freedom fighter Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Ahrar Khattak, on Thursday said that there were reports that the former and present chief ministers had secretly agreed to field weak candidates against each other in the upcoming general election in their respective constituencies to win election.

Speaking at a press conference here, he said that it was being speculated that the Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Ameer Haider Hoti had cut a deal to get desired results in the election.

He alleged that there was no merit in the award of party tickets by the parliamentary board of Awami National Party (ANP) and decision in this regard were made on personal likes and dislikes.

Ahrar Khattak said some candidates were allegedly paying money for receiving ANP tickets to them for the next elections. He said that inexperienced people like Sardar Hussain Babak were included in the parliamentary board, who were passing derogatory remarks about the senior party members.

“He (Sardar Hussain Babak) has kicked out his uncle and senior party member Karim Babak from the party,” he asserted.

Ahrar Khattak said he had applied for the party ticket to contest election on NA-25 but lamented that the party ticket was instead awarded to Malik Juma Khan.

He asked the party chief Asfandar Wali Khan and the party parliamentary board to review its decision of award of party tickets to candidates within 10 days.

Ahrar Khattak said he would announce his future line of action if the party did not reconsider the decision of award of ticket for constituency NA-25.