Former KP Chief Minister and ANP's Senior Vice President, Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has accused the government for making all-out efforts to delay provincial assembly elections in the merged districts of the erstwhile FATA. However, he said that ANP is determined to participate in the election to not leave the field open for anyone.
He expressed these views while briefing the media after the meeting of ANP's Think-Tank here at Bacha Khan Markaz on Saturday. The ANP stalwart also asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to review the code of conduct announced for the elections in the tribal districts adding that the deployment of military personnel inside polling stations beside the elections will also make the military controversial as institution. He said that the government is using tactics in the passage of 26th Amendment from the Senate to intentionally delay the elections. He expressed surprise over the government's letter to the election commission regarding security threat.
He said that the severe threat had explained to anyone nor informed that how the threat would be battled. He said that ANP demands holding elections in tribal districts as early as possible, so the tribesmen elected their representatives that can take steps for the resolution of the problems of their respective areas on priority basis.
The former KP chief minister also condemned the imposition of Section 144 in some areas and demanded abolition of restrictions on political activities to allow candidate to run their election campaign. He asked the election commission to avoid repetition of the history of July 25, 2018. In his regard, he said that ANP has also written a letter that has been responded in negative manner. This time, he said that army would face criticism due to deployment of personnel inside polling stations and more questions would be raised.
Regarding the arrests of Asif Ali Zardari and others, he said that these arrests have smell of revenge. He said that they respect judiciary. However, the presumption of the Adviser on Information regarding the arrest of Asif Ali Zardari has created doubts and confusion. Ameer Haider Hoti also demanded investigation into the confession of pressure by the Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which he had made before the Video Scandal.