MARDAN: Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan has said that the ANP will not let Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan wriggle out of his responsibilities by becoming part of any move to topple the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Speaking at a public meeting here on Sunday, he said it was evident from the way of Imran Khan’s politics that he could not become a good politician.

He said Imran Khan and the federal government would have to overcome their egos and unnecessary rigidity to pave the way for result-oriented talks.

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“From the very beginning, we have been telling both the government and the PTI leaders that holding talks is the only way to resolve political issues and disputes,” he said, adding that the stakeholders should avoid confrontation and make the dialogue meaningful as soon as possible because the country was at a critical juncture.

The ANP chief said it was good to hear that the government was taking measures for the return of people displaced from North Waziristan because of a military operation there. But, he added, return of IDPs would not be sufficient and their rehabilitation would also have to be ensured.

Referring to the PTI chief’s offer to reopen polling bags of any constituency in KP, he said the ANP would not make such a demand because it wanted to give full opportunity to the PTI’s government. He alleged that rulers in KP were in fact seeking excuses to shirk from the responsibility of running the province.

Mr Wali asked the provincial government to stop alleged political victimisation of ANP workers, otherwise, he warned, it would be responsible for the consequences. He said he believed in the politics of politeness and dignity and had always tried to avoid policies of victimisation.

“Like our forefathers, we have always rendered sacrifices for our nation and have never bowed before our enemy,” he said, adding that they were in the field and prepared to render sacrifices for the Pakhtun soil.

Former chief minister Ameer Haider Hoti said one cannot bring revolution while sitting in a container. “Those claiming to bring change in the whole country have failed to deliver in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”

He said the PTI-led provincial government had wound up an interest-free loan scheme for youngsters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“We will launch a new era of development and prosperity in the province after getting the due amount of Rs300 billion from the centre once we come to power,” he said. “We will also double the funds for the Hunarmand Programme and Bacha Khan Khapal Rozgar Scheme.”

He said the Pakhtun nation had given a mandate to Imran Khan in KP but he was unaware of people’s miseries and problems.

He alleged that Mr Khan and the Sharif brothers had been fighting for power in Islamabad and Punjab and that was why the PTI chief had forgotten the Pakhtuns and their interests.

A large number of ANP leaders and activists from Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera and Swabi attended the rally.

Published in Dawn December 15th , 2014