SWABI/CHARSADDA: Awami National Party’s central vice-president Ameer Hider Khan Hoti on Monday accused former chief ministers Pervez Khattak and Mahmood Khan of committing financial and economic mismanagement in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Addressing an election rally in Yar Hussain area here, he said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leadership’s outcry over denial of space for electioneering was unfounded. He said when the PTI was in power its leaders relentlessly targeted their opponents.

Mr Hoti claimed that PTI came to power through a fraudulent election in 2018.

He said KP’s debt surged to Rs900 billion during the PTI’s nine years in power.

He said Mr Khattak enjoyed power and looting when PTI was in power in the province and the centre, but now he was accusing the party’s founding chairman and former minister Imran Khan of being the most corrupt leader, which he said was double standards.

Mr Hoti, who also remained KP chief minister, said the independent candidates affiliated with PTI would switch loyalties if they won their seats.

He called on the party leaders and workers to speed up canvassing and woo people to vote for ANP candidates on Feb 8.

Meanwhile, ANP provincial president Aimal Wali Khan has said any attempt to revoke 18th Constitutional Amendment would be resisted.

Talking to media persons after an election rally in Prang area of Charsadda on Monday, he regretted that the amendment was not being implemented in its true spirit. He said governments were given to people, who had nothing to do with the rights of Pakhtuns.

He said self-accountability of each and every institution was vital.

Aimal Wali said ANP had been waging a struggle since 1930 against tyrants left by the British rulers on this soil. He said he didn’t believe in the power of gun and believed only in the power of people.

Aimal Wali said ANP workers and leaders were martyred and targeted in the war against terrorism under a planned conspiracy. He said PTI was imposed on Pakhtuns to ‘usurp’ their rights and resources.

He said when Pakhtuns demanded their rights they were labelled as enemies of Pakistan and the state.

The ANP provincial president said he would continue to wage struggle for the rights of Pakhtuns.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2024

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