Sherpao urges further steps for holding transparent polls

Opposing any delay in holding the next general elections, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Thursday asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the caretaker government to take further steps for holding elections in a free, fair and transparent manner.
Speaking at a press conference at the party's central secretariat in Hayatabad here, he said the election was the only way to address the problems facing the people and steer the country out of the prevailing crises. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Abdul Ghaffar Khan Mohmand along with his supporters and family members announced joining the QWP on the occasion. Ghaffar Mohmand, who is expected to contest the forthcoming elections from the National Assembly constituency NA-10, reposed confidence in the leadership of Aftab Sherpao. He vowed to strive for strengthening the party. QWP provincial Chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao and other party leaders were also present.
To a question about the deteriorating law and order, Aftab Sherpao said he was not in favour of boycotting the polls, arguing election was the continuity of the democratic set-up and every possible step should be taken to ensure the election was held in a peaceful environment.
"We had asked the previous government time and again to take tangible steps for the restoration of peace, but no heed was paid to keep order," he lamented and came down hard on the so-called nationalist leaders whose ill-conceived policies had exposed the Pakhtuns to a host of challenges. Aftab Sherpao dismissed media reports suggesting his party's negotiations with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on seat-to-seat adjustment had broken down. He said QWP and JUI-F had entered into seat-to-seat adjustment in Swabi and Buner districts and he was optimistic about extending the election co-operation to other districts. However, he said his party might reach an agreement with some other political party for seat adjustment. "Our doors are open for negotiations," he maintained.
Answering another question, the QWP leader said his party had not asked the provincial caretaker government for extending security to its leadership, but maintained the government should tighten security so that the voters could visit polling stations and cast their ballots on the Election Day without any fear.